TLDR
- Two Amazon Prime Air drones collide with crane in Tolleson, FAA probes.
- FAA, NTSB investigate Amazon drone crash with crane near Phoenix hub.
- Amazon halts drone deliveries after Arizona mid-air crane collision.
- Prime Air drones crash into crane; federal probe launched in Arizona.
- Amazon pauses drone ops as FAA, NTSB review Tolleson crash incident
Two Prime Air drones collided with a construction crane on Wednesday in Tolleson, Arizona, prompting a temporary suspension of service. The drones, en route near a distribution center, crashed mid-air into the crane’s boom and landed separately. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) immediately launched investigations into the incident.
Emergency responders, including local police and fire departments, arrived shortly after the crash, which occurred around 10 a.m. local time. One person received treatment for possible smoke inhalation near the wreckage but sustained no serious injuries. No other property damage or casualties were reported.
Amazon confirmed the crash and paused its drone operations in the West Valley Phoenix Metro Area pending the results of the investigation. Both drones involved were MK30 models used for same-day delivery. The company is cooperating with authorities as it reviews the cause and any potential technical failures.
FAA and NTSB open investigations into the incident
The FAA confirmed that it is reviewing the event alongside the NTSB to determine how the drones struck the crane during flight. The drones were reportedly flying back-to-back when they hit the boom of a stationary crane being used for rooftop construction. Witnesses, including a nearby diesel mechanic, said one drone clipped the crane’s cable before falling.
Each drone suffered substantial damage from the mid-air collision, with wreckage scattered across nearby parking lots. Preliminary FAA data confirms the drones were mid-route at the time of impact. Investigators aim to assess potential faults in Amazon’s sense-and-avoid navigation systems.
This marks the second federal investigation involving Amazon drones within a year. Earlier crashes in Pendleton, Oregon, also led to scrutiny over software reliability and operational safety. Amazon had resumed drone deliveries in March after completing FAA validations and software updates.
Amazon’s expanding but troubled drone ambitions
Amazon launched Prime Air drone deliveries in Tolleson in November 2024 using MK30 drones capable of carrying up to five pounds. The program aims to deliver lightweight items in under an hour, targeting rapid same-day delivery markets. However, technical issues and regulatory challenges have slowed broader expansion.
In January, Amazon paused drone services in both Tolleson and College Station, Texas, after separate crashes at a test site. The company attributed those incidents to software anomalies that have since been patched. Despite these setbacks, Amazon remains committed to its goal of delivering 500 million packages by drone annually by 2030.
New federal rules proposed by the Transportation Department in August aim to enable commercial drones to operate beyond the operator’s visual line of sight. These changes, once approved, could support wider drone use for logistics. For now, Amazon’s drone ambitions remain under pressure amid repeated disruptions and mounting regulatory oversight.
