Amazon’s drone delivery service, Prime Air, was temporarily suspended after two of its drones crashed into a crane in Tolleson, Arizona, on Wednesday morning. The incident, which occurred around 10 a.m., involved two MK30 drones that were delivering packages in the area near 96th Avenue and Roosevelt Street. The drones, each weighing over 80 pounds, struck the boom of a crane at a commercial site, causing significant damage and even a fire.
While no injuries were reported, the crash prompted an investigation by local authorities, including the Tolleson Police Department, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Amazon confirmed that it was cooperating with relevant agencies to understand what caused the incident.

In response to the crash, Amazon suspended its drone deliveries for two days. However, the company announced that deliveries would resume on Friday. “We’ve completed our own internal review and are confident there wasn’t a problem with the drones or the technology. We are, however, introducing extra measures like enhanced visual checks for moving obstacles such as cranes,” said Terrence Clark, an Amazon spokesperson.
Prime Air drones, which began delivering packages to customers in 2022, are designed with sophisticated technology that includes a “detect and avoid system” to prevent crashes. Despite this, Amazon is reviewing its safety procedures to ensure no similar incidents happen in the future.
Residents in Tolleson have been able to receive packages weighing less than five pounds within an hour since the company opened its drone delivery center in the area earlier this year. The MK30 drones, approved by the FAA, are capable of flying beyond the operator’s line of sight.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA are continuing to investigate the cause of the crash, as Amazon works to strengthen its safety protocols moving forward.
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