When two Amazon Prime Air delivery drones unexpectedly collided with a crane boom in Tolleson, Arizona, on Wednesday, it sent ripples through the drone delivery industry and raised fresh questions about safety standards. Now, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have opened formal investigations into the incidents.
Amazon started its same-day, under-one-hour drone service for items weighing up to 5 pounds (2.3 kg) from its Tolleson facility in November 2024. The service, hailed as a leap forward in urban logistics, was paused on Thursday and is scheduled to resume on Friday following an internal review.
"Safety is our top priority, and we've completed our own internal review of this incident and are confident that there wasn't an issue with the drones or the technology that supports them," said Amazon spokesperson Terrence Clark. "We've introduced additional processes like enhanced visual landscape inspections to better monitor for moving obstructions such as cranes."
Amazon aims to deliver 500 million packages by drone annually by 2030. The company expanded beyond retail in 2023 by partnering with Amazon Pharmacy to deliver prescription medications in College Station, Texas, signaling a push into critical services.
In August, the U.S. Transportation Department proposed new rules to allow drones to fly beyond the visual line of sight of operators – a key step to unlock large-scale commercial use. "It's going to change the way that people and products move throughout our airspace," said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. "You may change the way you get your Amazon package."
As regulators dig into the crane collisions, the outcome will shape not only Amazon's trajectory but the broader future of rapid drone deliveries in crowded urban skies.
Reference(s):
Two Amazon delivery drone crashes under federal investigation
cgtn.com
