Arizona Drone Mishap Sparks Federal Safety Probe into Amazon’s Delivery Service

Two Amazon Prime Air delivery drones met with an unfortunate accident in Tolleson, Arizona on a recent Wednesday. This incident has led to investigations by both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The mishap took place around 10 a.m. local time. The MK30 drones, which were on their delivery routes, collided with the extended boom of a stationary crane. The crane was being used for roof work at a commercial site. The impact resulted in “substantial” damage to both aircraft, each weighing over 80 pounds, and sparked a small fire. One individual was treated for smoke inhalation, but thankfully, no serious injuries were reported.

Amazon was quick to respond, temporarily suspending its drone delivery operations in the Phoenix area. However, the service was resumed on Friday after an internal review was completed. Despite the setback, Amazon continues to express confidence in its drone technology and safety systems. The company attributes the crash to external factors rather than technical failures.

This incident marks another hurdle for Amazon’s ambitious Prime Air program. The program aims to deliver 500 million packages annually by drone by 2030. It’s worth noting that the company had to pause operations in January following similar crashes in Oregon. This highlights the ongoing challenges in safely scaling autonomous delivery services in complex urban environments.

Source: CNBC