The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating Amazon following an incident last week in which a delivery drone struck an internet cable in Waco, Texas. The MK30 drone reportedly clipped a utility line during takeoff on November 18, prompting a controlled emergency landing. No injuries or major service disruptions were reported.
Amazon confirmed the drone executed a "Safe Contingent Landing" after the collision, a protocol designed for such scenarios. This marks the second FAA probe into Amazon's drone operations in recent months, following a separate incident in October involving two drones colliding with a crane in Arizona.
Video footage reviewed by CNBC showed the drone's propeller becoming entangled in the cable, leading to an automatic shutdown of its motors. While the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) declined to investigate, the FAA emphasized its commitment to ensuring compliance with safety standards.
Amazon has expanded its drone delivery services since launching prescription drops in College Station, Texas, in 2023. The company aims to deliver 500 million packages annually via drone by 2030, though regulatory scrutiny remains a key challenge for scaling operations.
