Amazon grounds drone deliveries in Arizona after two crashed into a crane

**Amazon Grounds Drone Fleet in Arizona Following Dual Crashes**

Amazon has temporarily grounded its drone delivery fleet in Arizona after two of its airborne delivery vehicles crashed on Wednesday. Both drones suffered heavy damage, and presumably, a couple of customers are still waiting for their orders. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the incidents.

The agency confirmed it is investigating the crashes, and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is also involved. The NTSB told El Reg that a preliminary report would be available within 30 days.

In response to the incidents, Amazon suspended all drone flights over Tolleson while conducting an internal review. However, a company spokesperson indicated that flights are expected to resume on Friday.

> “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. Nonetheless, we’ve introduced additional processes like enhanced visual landscape inspections to better monitor for moving obstructions such as cranes,” the spokesperson said.

Amazon launched its drone delivery service in Tolleson less than a year ago, and this marks the first time a dual-drone crash has occurred. The online retail giant aims to have drones deliver orders within an hour of a customer placing them and has been trialing this system in Texas, Arizona, and parts of Europe.

Local authorities are reportedly investigating the incident, and Amazon technicians were seen at the crash scene, according to local media reports.

### About the Drones Involved

The drones involved in the crashes were Amazon’s MK30 models, which received clearance for takeoff in 2023. These drones feature six propellers and can carry up to five pounds of payload within an operational radius of about 7.5 miles.

Amazon states that the MK30 drones use onboard vision systems to locate delivery spots and rely on advanced machine learning algorithms trained to recognize objects such as humans, animals, obstacles, and other aircraft. However, they apparently did not detect cranes—identified as potential moving obstructions.

### Limitations and Practical Uses of Prime Air

Prime Air’s practical use remains somewhat limited. While the drones can complete deliveries within an hour, their operational range is relatively small, and customers must have appropriate space for the drone to land.

Interestingly, the most popular item delivered via Prime Air has been AA batteries, according to Amazon.

In addition to geographic limitations, flight authorities must be convinced that such drone operations are safe. Incidents like these crashes may pose challenges to gaining wider regulatory approval.

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Amazon continues to develop its drone delivery technology, unveiling new drone designs and planning expansions into the UK and Italy. Despite setbacks, the company remains committed to pushing the boundaries of aerial delivery services.
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/10/02/amazon_drone_crash/

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