Amazon Resumes Drone Delivery After Arizona Crash

Amazon Resumes Drone Delivery in Arizona Amidst Crash Investigation

Amazon is set to recommence its drone delivery operations in Arizona starting Friday. This decision comes as investigations continue by two federal agencies regarding a recent incident.

Drone Collision and Service Suspension

Operations were temporarily paused in the West Valley area of the Phoenix Metro region – Amazon’s sole current commercial market – following a crash on Wednesday. The incident involved a collision between two of the company’s Prime Air delivery drones and the boom of a crane near a facility in Tolleson, Arizona.

Both drones subsequently fell to the ground as a result of the impact.

Prime Air Service Details

Since November 2024, Amazon has been utilizing its Prime Air drone service to deliver packages weighing up to five pounds to customers within the West Valley of Phoenix.

Ongoing Investigations and Company Response

Amazon spokesperson Terrence Clark stated the company will fully cooperate with the “ongoing reviews” conducted by the relevant agencies. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration officially launched investigations into the crash on Thursday.

“Safety remains our paramount concern,” Clark explained in a statement. “Our internal review of the incident has been completed, and we are confident that neither the drones themselves nor the supporting technology experienced any malfunction.”

Despite this confidence, Amazon has implemented additional safety measures. These include more thorough visual inspections of the delivery area to identify and monitor potential moving obstructions, such as cranes.

Past Challenges and Future Goals

The Prime Air program has encountered several obstacles throughout its development. These have included the departure of key personnel as Amazon strives to achieve its ambitious goal of delivering 500 million packages annually via drones by the end of the decade.

Previous Testing Halts

Amazon previously suspended drone testing after a mid-air collision between two of its drones occurred in Oregon in December 2024. This led to a temporary halt in drone deliveries in College Station, Texas, and Arizona while a software update was implemented across the drone fleet. Amazon no longer operates in College Station.

Regulatory Approvals and Expansion Plans

Amazon has also achieved positive developments, including receiving approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to extend the operational range of its delivery drones. This approval, granted in May 2024, removed a significant regulatory barrier, enabling Amazon to broaden its Prime Air service.

The company has previously announced plans to expand Prime Air delivery services to several Texas cities – Richardson, San Antonio, and Waco – as well as to Detroit and Kansas City nationwide.