🚁 Last week in Waco, Texas, an Amazon MK30 delivery drone went viral for the wrong reason: around 12:45 p.m. on November 18, one of its propellers snagged a thin internet cable, knocking it down.
On Tuesday, November 25, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed it is investigating the incident. Video footage from CNBC shows the drone lifting off after a package drop when it tangled with the line. Thankfully, the drone performed a "safe contingent landing" as designed – no injuries or major internet outages.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said it is not probing this event, while Amazon tells us that the drone’s motors shut down safely after clipping the wire. This follows an October case in Arizona, where two Amazon Prime Air drones collided with a crane – also under FAA and NTSB scrutiny.
Amazon kicked off its drone delivery service for prescription meds with Amazon Pharmacy in College Station, Texas, in 2023. Looking ahead, the e-commerce giant aims to deliver 500 million packages per year by drone by 2030. Ambitious, but is safety keeping pace? 🤔
As regulators dig deeper, the question remains: can drones stay cool and connected without cutting the lines that keep us online? Stay tuned for more updates! ✈️
Reference(s):
U.S. probes Amazon after delivery drone snaps internet cable in Texas
cgtn.com
