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 drone delivery operations in Texas and Arizona to perform a software upgrade on its drones.
The pause follows multiple crashes of its MK30 drones at a test facility in Oregon, some of which were reportedly caused by software issues, especially in light rain.
While Amazon insists the service suspension is for a voluntary software upgrade and its drones are safe, these incidents are currently under investigation by the NTSB and FAA.
The drone delivery service faces ongoing challenges, including low delivery numbers and local community opposition, despite recent FAA approvals for expanded flight capabilities.
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.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
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.
