Amazon has suspended its Prime Air drone delivery operations following two crashes in Tolleson on Wednesday morning.
The incidents occurred shortly after 10 a.m. near 97th Avenue and Roosevelt Street, when two drones collided with the boom of a crane being used for roof work at a business park, according to Tolleson police.
One drone crashed in a parking lot beside the crane, while the second came down at a nearby business. No injuries were reported.
Tolleson police and fire crews from Tolleson and Avondale responded to the scene, with video showing one of the drones heavily damaged outside a building.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it is investigating, while the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has also launched a probe. In a statement, the FAA said:
“Two MK30 drones collided with the boom of a crane in Tolleson, Arizona, around 10 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Oct. 1. No injuries were reported. The FAA will investigate.”
Amazon acknowledged the crashes in a statement Wednesday afternoon:
“We’re aware of an incident involving two Prime Air drones in Tolleson, Arizona. We’re currently working with the relevant authorities to investigate.”
Prime Air, launched in 2022, uses small drones to deliver packages directly to customers. It is unclear when the service will resume operations in the Tolleson area.
The crashes mark the latest challenge relating to traffic management for Amazon’s high-profile program, which has faced regulatory, technical and logistical hurdles since its rollout.
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