News Summary
Amazon has temporarily suspended its Prime Air drone delivery services in Tolleson, Arizona, following a collision between two delivery drones and a construction crane. The incident, which occurred around 10 a.m., resulted in significant damage to the drones, although no injuries were reported. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash. Amazon confirmed its cooperation with the investigation and plans to resume drone deliveries shortly. This incident comes after previous delivery issues in Oregon, underscoring the challenges in the company’s drone logistics strategy.
Tolleson, Arizona – Amazon has temporarily paused its Prime Air delivery services after two of its delivery drones collided with a crane in a commercial area on Wednesday around 10 a.m. local time. The incident involved MK30 model drones, which crashed into the boom of a stationary construction crane located near an Amazon warehouse.
Both drones sustained substantial damage from the collision and landed in the backyard of a nearby building. There were no reported injuries from the incident, although one person was evaluated on the scene for possible smoke inhalation, according to local authorities.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. Preliminary FAA reports indicate that the drones were flying northeast back-to-back before colliding with the crane. The NTSB did not immediately respond to requests for further comments post-incident.
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed the company’s awareness of the incident and stated that the organization is cooperating with the ongoing investigations. As a precaution, Amazon plans to resume its drone delivery services in Tolleson on Friday, marking a two-day suspension that followed the collision. The company has implemented additional processes, including enhanced visual inspections to monitor moving obstructions like cranes effectively.
This incident comes on the heels of a brief pause in Amazon’s drone deliveries in January due to two crashes at its Pendleton, Oregon, test site. After resolving issues with its drone software, Amazon resumed deliveries in March 2023 and is currently advancing its initiative to deliver 500 million packages by drone annually by the end of the decade.
Drone deliveries represent a significant part of Amazon’s logistics strategy, with services having begun in the Phoenix metro area in November. This service enables customers to receive packages weighing less than five pounds within an hour, aligning with the company’s long-standing goal to enhance delivery efficiency. Amazon’s commitment to drone technology began over a decade ago with founder Jeff Bezos’s concept for Prime Air.
Despite the challenges faced, Amazon’s delivery drones are designed with a sense-and-avoid system intended to prevent such incidents. The company continues to evolve its operational processes to ensure the safety and reliability of its drone delivery services.
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