Two of Amazon's Latest and Greatest Drones, the MK30s, Run Rotor-First into a Crane Boom

Amazon Prime Air has halted its unmanned delivery operations after two of its MK30 drones ran into the boom of a crane in Tolleson, Arizona. No injuries were reported, but the drones were left an expensive pile of burning rubble.

“We’re aware of an incident involving two Prime Air drones in Tolleson, Arizona,” a statement from the company read. “We’re currently working with the relevant authorities to investigate.”

The crash happened early on October 1 near 96th Avenue and Roosevelt Street, leaving both aircraft destroyed. Police in Tolleson quickly secured the site and confirmed that an investigation was underway. Federal officials also stepped in, with both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board doing their parts.

Amazon identified the drones as its MK30 model: the latest generation designed for short-range package deliveries. Each weighs more than 80 pounds and is approved to fly beyond the operator’s line of sight, guided by a built-in “detect and avoid” system. The fact that two collided with the same crane raises questions about the effectiveness of that technology, however.

The company acknowledged the accident and confirmed that drone operations would be paused. No timeline was given for when flights might resume.

Amazon launched Prime Air flights in 2022, allowing customers in select neighborhoods to order items weighing less than five pounds and receive them in under an hour. Earlier this year, Amazon opened a dedicated drone delivery hub in Tolleson, expanding access to the service.

The crash is the most visible setback yet for the program, though it has inevitably faced other regulatory hurdles and scalability issues. The program has also been scrutinized for its ability to operate safely in dense urban environments, meaning the recent incident will only intensify concerns.

FMI: www.aboutamazon.com