Amazon has suspended commercial drone delivery operations in Texas and Arizona after two of its latest MK30 models crashed at a test facility in rainy weather.
The company announced Friday that it is suspending a program that implements software updates to ensure vehicle safety.
A crash at Amazon's testing site in Pendleton, Oregon, in December was blamed on a software glitch caused by light rain.
One of the drones caught fire upon impact.
I'm an Amazon spokesperson. told Bloomberg News The company said the crash was not the “primary reason” for the suspension and did not say what other issues would be addressed in the software update.
Amazon's MK30 drones have been delivering packages in College Station, Texas, and Tolleson, Arizona since the company received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration in October.
Last summer, College Station's mayor sent a strongly worded letter to the FAA protesting Amazon's drones and their noise levels, which some local residents likened to a “giant beehive.”
The six-propeller model is designed to be lighter, quieter, and able to fly in light rain, and this feature is currently under review.
“We are currently making software changes to our drones and are voluntarily suspending our commercial operations,” Amazon spokesperson Sam Stephenson told Bloomberg News.
“Deliveries will resume once the update is completed and approved by the FAA.”
Employees at affected drone sites will continue to be paid during the outage.
The decision is the latest setback for Amazon's Prime Air, which has struggled for more than a decade to expand its drone delivery service.
Despite regulatory milestones, including FAA approval to allow flight beyond visual line of sight, the program is still in a limited testing phase.
Amazon completed its first test flight in Italy last month and is seeking approval to operate in the UK.
In addition to the December crash, two Amazon drones collided due to operator error in a previously unreported incident in September.
According to the FAA report, the company was testing the MK30's response to a motor failure when a second drone was accidentally launched onto a collision course.
The drone crashed mid-air and spiraled down to the ground. Amazon has since revised its operating procedures and training protocols.
The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating both the September and December accidents.
Amazon argues that such tests are essential to improving drone safety.
“The purpose of these tests is to push the aircraft beyond its limits. It would be irresponsible not to do that,” Stevenson said.
Amazon's drone program has faced multiple safety concerns in recent years.
a The Bloomberg investigation has previously been documented There were five crashes in 2021, including one that started a wildfire.
The FAA recorded at least four additional crashes in 2022, three of which were due to sudden loss of power.
In November 2023, Amazon temporarily suspended operations after an MK27-2 drone crashed during flight after its battery ran out.
Amazon is working to improve its technology, but it remains unclear whether the company can overcome setbacks to make drone delivery a permanent mainstay.
