My client's custom island top split right down the middle during a dry fit

I was in my shop last month putting together a big walnut island top for a kitchen remodel. I had glued up three 8-foot boards, planed them flat, and cut the shape. Everything looked perfect until I lifted it onto the base cabinets for a final check. I heard this awful crack, and a 4-foot split just opened up right along a glue line. My heart sank. The room was really dry and I think the wood just moved faster than I planned for. I had to cut the whole top apart along the split, joint the edges again, and re-glue it, which set the project back two full days. I'm way more careful about checking moisture now before a big glue-up. Has anyone else had a panel fail at the worst possible moment, and how did you fix it without starting over?

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