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NTSB Will Not Investigate Amazon Drone Incident in Texas

While the FAA is probing the event, the NTSB says the ‘non-action event’ does not meet its threshold for one.

Amazon Prime Air MK30 delivery drone
The MK30, which began flying in Texas and Arizona last November, is Amazon Prime Air’s flagship delivery drone. [Courtesy: Amazon]
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Key Takeaways:

  • The FAA is investigating an Amazon Prime Air MK30 drone that clipped an internet cable during liftoff in Waco, Texas, though the NTSB will not conduct its own probe into the "non-action event."
  • This incident adds to a history of Amazon drone issues, including two MK30s colliding with a crane in October (causing substantial damage and battery fires), and prior test crashes due to altitude sensor malfunctions.
  • Despite these operational setbacks, resident pushback in some areas, and low delivery numbers to date, Amazon continues to expand its drone delivery service to new markets with an ambitious goal of 500 million annual deliveries by 2030.
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The FAA is probing an incident involving Amazon Prime Air’s MK30 delivery drone in Waco, Texas. But the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)—which is reviewing a pair of MK30 collisions that happened in October—will not investigate.

Per video obtained by CNBC, which was first to report the incident, the MK30 clipped an internet cable during liftoff after completing a delivery to a customer’s backyard. After impact, the drone performed what Prime Air describes as a “safe contingent landing,” and Amazon self-reported the episode. The company began commercial service in Waco earlier this month.

Jack Daleo

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.

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