Two Amazon drones crashed into a crane in Tolleson, Arizona, this week, leading the retail giant to pause deliveries.
The package flights, which stopped after the wreck Wednesday, are resuming Friday, Amazon spokesman Terrence Clark said, according to Phoenix’s KSAZ-TV.
The two MK30 drones, which can carry 5 pounds, hit the crane at around 10 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
Tolleson Police Department Sgt. Eric Mendez told Phoenix’s KPNX that the two drones were flying back to back when they struck the crane, crashing about 100 to 200 feet apart from each other. He added that one person was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident, with Amazon’s support.
“Safety is our top priority, and we’ve completed our own internal review of this incident and are confident that there wasn’t an issue with the drones or the technology that supports them. Nonetheless, we’ve introduced additional processes like enhanced visual landscape inspections to better monitor for moving obstructions such as cranes,” Mr. Clark told TechCrunch.
Amazon started same-day drone delivery in the western part of Phoenix last November, according to the news site.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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