Latest News

NTSB and FAA will investigate crashes of two Amazon drones

Two U.S. agencies announced Thursday that they would investigate the collision between two Amazon Prime Air drones and the boom of an Arizona crane in Tolleson.

Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have said that they will both investigate the incident which occurred on Wednesday.

Amazon announced in November 2024 that it would begin drone deliveries to the West Valley in Arizona's Phoenix Metro Area from its same-day location in Tolleson. It also said on Thursday that it had temporarily paused Prime Air drone operation in Arizona.

Amazon's Terrence Clark, a spokesman for the company, said that the company had been made aware of the incident. "We are currently working with relevant authorities to conduct an investigation."

Amazon has announced that customers living near Tolleson can buy an item weighing less than 5 pounds and have it delivered in under an hour by drone.

Amazon started delivering prescription medication by drone in 2023 in College Station, Texas, in partnership with Amazon Pharmacy.

The U.S. Transportation Department announced new rules in August to accelerate the deployment of drones outside the line of sight for operators. This is a crucial change to help commercial applications like package delivery.

Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary, said: "It will change the way people and goods move through our airspace... you might get an Amazon package or a Starbucks coffee by a drone."

Amazon wants to deliver 500 million packages per year by drones by 2030. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson)

(source: Reuters)