Amazon has suspended drone deliveries in the West Valley Phoenix Metro Area following a crash involving two of its MK30 drones and a construction crane. This incident occurred on Wednesday morning at approximately 10 AM local time in Tolleson, Arizona, roughly two miles from an Amazon distribution center. No injuries were reported, but a witness received treatment for smoke inhalation from the wreckage, reports 24brussels.
Gabriel Dahlberg, a diesel mechanic who witnessed the crash, stated that one of the drones clipped the cable of the crane as it was lifting equipment onto a building. According to Sergeant Erik Mendez of the Tolleson Police Department, preliminary investigation reveals that both drones collided with the crane while flying in close proximity, landing approximately 100 to 200 feet apart in separate parking lots.
Local fire and police departments responded to the accident, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced it will conduct an investigation into the incident, working in conjunction with Amazon. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed awareness of the incident and noted the company’s cooperation with authorities for the ongoing investigation.
Amazon initiated same-day drone deliveries in Tolleson last November, utilizing MK30 drones capable of carrying payloads up to five pounds. While the duration of the service suspension remains uncertain, this marks the second grounding of drone operations in the region since their introduction less than a year ago. Previous interruptions occurred earlier this year for software updates following a crash at a testing facility in Oregon.
