TOLLESON, AZ (AZFamily) — Amazon is pausing its drone delivery system after two of its drones crashed into a crane in Tolleson on Wednesday morning, sources say.
The collisions happened within moments of each other just after 10 a.m. at a business park near 97th Avenue and Roosevelt Street, south of Interstate 10. Tolleson police responded alongside fire crews from Tolleson and Avondale.
Based on a preliminary investigation by the Tolleson police and fire departments, the two drones were flying northeast back-to-back when they both struck an extended crane being used for roof work at a business.
Police said one drone hit the ground in the same parking lot near the crane, while the second came down in the parking lot of a different business. No injuries were reported.
Video from the scene shows a badly damaged drone outside a building with multiple fire crews on scene.
Sources said Prime Air drone operations are currently paused. It’s unclear when they’ll resume.
Amazon Prime Air uses drones to fly packages to customers and was launched in 2022.
Tolleson police confirmed the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now investigating. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it is also looking into the collision.
“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,” the FAA said in a statement to Arizona’s Family.
Amazon released the following statement on 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.”
