Amazon Resumes Drone Deliveries in Arizona After Tolleson Crash, Safety Upgrades in Place
Amazon is set to restart its Prime Air drone delivery service in Arizona this Friday following a midweek collision that briefly grounded operations in the Phoenix Metro area. The pause came after two of Amazon’s delivery drones collided with a crane boom near its same-day fulfillment site in Tolleson, sending both drones crashing to the ground. The incident sparked investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which remain ongoing.
The West Valley of Phoenix has been Amazon’s only commercial drone delivery market since the service launched in November 2024. The program allows customers to receive packages weighing up to five pounds via drones, offering same-day delivery in select neighborhoods. Despite the recent crash, Amazon said the technology powering the drones remains sound, citing an internal review that found no faults with the fleet itself.
“Safety is our top priority,” Amazon spokesperson Terrence Clark said in an emailed statement. “We’ve implemented additional safety measures, including enhanced visual landscape inspections to monitor moving obstacles like cranes, to further reduce risks during operations.” These precautions reflect the company’s ongoing commitment to safe drone deployment while federal investigations continue.
Amazon’s drone program has faced hurdles over the years, including executive departures and previous crashes. In December 2024, a mid-air collision in Oregon led the company to suspend deliveries in College Station, Texas, and parts of Arizona until software upgrades could be completed. While Amazon no longer operates in College Station, it has steadily worked toward its goal of delivering 500 million packages annually via drones by 2030.
The company has also made progress, notably receiving FAA approval in May 2024 to fly drones over longer distances. This regulatory green light enables Amazon to expand its Prime Air service to additional U.S. cities, including planned sites in Richardson, San Antonio, Waco, Detroit, and Kansas City. The resumption in Arizona marks a key step in the company’s vision for nationwide drone deliveries, combining speed, convenience, and safety.
source: techcrunch