Though Prime Air drones experienced multiple crashes during testing in recent months, the company points to a software upgrade as the main reason for the pause.
Amazon Prime Air’s MK30 delivery drone suffered crashes in September and December, but the company says the incidents are not the ‘primary reason’ for the pause. [Courtesy: Amazon Prime Air]
Key Takeaways:
Amazon Prime Air has temporarily suspended its drone delivery operations in Texas and Arizona to implement a software upgrade across its fleet.
The pause follows several drone crashes at its Oregon test facility in September and December, with some incidents linked to software issues, particularly in light rain.
While Amazon states the software upgrade is the primary reason for the halt, and that crashes occurred during rigorous testing, the incidents are being investigated by the NTSB and FAA.
This temporary shutdown comes as Prime Air has been gaining FAA approvals for expanded operations but also faces challenges like low delivery numbers and public opposition.
Amazon Prime Air, the drone delivery arm of the e-commerce giant, is temporarily halting operations in Texas and Arizona to upgrade its drones’ software.
The move follows crashes at Prime Air’s test facility in Pendleton, Oregon, in September and December, first reported by Bloomberg.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
