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 paused drone delivery services in Texas and Arizona to implement a software upgrade.
This halt follows multiple drone crashes at its Oregon test facility in September and December, with some December incidents reportedly linked to a software issue affecting MK30 drones in light rain.
While Amazon states the pause is for voluntary upgrades and emphasizes drone safety, federal agencies are investigating the crashes.
The service, despite recent FAA approvals and expansion plans, has completed few deliveries and faces community pushback regarding noise and proposed expansion.
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.
