Amazon is restarting its Prime Air drone delivery service in Arizona on Friday, two days after halting operations due to a collision between two delivery drones near Phoenix. The crash occurred when the aircraft struck a construction crane close to the company’s same-day delivery site in Tolleson.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration have opened investigations into the incident. Amazon completed its own review and determined that neither the drones nor their onboard technology caused the accident.
The company has since introduced additional safety measures, including improved visual inspections to monitor for moving obstacles. Drone deliveries in the Phoenix area began in late 2024, offering customers lightweight package deliveries within minutes.
The Prime Air program has faced several operational and regulatory challenges, including previous mid-air collisions and temporary suspensions. However, the FAA’s approval in May 2024 for longer-distance flights has allowed Amazon to pursue gradual expansion plans across new U.S. cities.
While federal reviews remain ongoing, Amazon has resumed operations in Arizona, its only active commercial drone delivery market, as it continues working toward large-scale deployment of autonomous air deliveries by the end of the decade.
Source: TechCrunch