FAA Investigates Amazon Drone Incident: Cable Snag in Texas

Amazon’s autonomous delivery program faces intensified regulatory scrutiny following an incident in Waco, Texas, where one of its latest MK30 drones became snagged on an overhead internet cable, severing the line before executing an automated safe landing.

The incident occurred on November 18, 2025, when aircraft registration N139PA contacted a thin overhead cable while ascending from a customer’s residence after completing a delivery. The propeller strike severed the internet line and triggered the drone’s autonomous contingency landing sequence, resulting in a controlled descent without injuries or additional property damage.

Amazon confirmed the incident to the FAA and stated it compensated the property owner for cable repairs. The company emphasized the cable was internet infrastructure rather than power transmission equipment. Video evidence from nearby witnesses appears to document the collision and subsequent automated shutdown procedure.

The Waco collision represents the third significant MK30 accident within two months. In early October 2025, two Prime Air drones collided with a construction crane boom in Tolleson, Arizona, destroying both aircraft and temporarily suspending Amazon’s drone operations in that region pending FAA and NTSB review.

These incidents raise critical questions about the MK30’s sense-and-avoid capabilities, despite Amazon’s assertions that the hexacopter employs sophisticated obstacle detection systems. Each recent accident involved stationary objects theoretically detectable by onboard sensors, suggesting potential limitations in the aircraft’s autonomous navigation technology.

The FAA is currently reviewing the Waco incident, while the NTSB indicated awareness but has not opened a formal investigation. Amazon stated it received no additional regulatory inquiries following initial notification.

Amazon launched MK30 operations in Waco in November 2025, restricting deliveries to packages under five pounds within a designated service radius, with target delivery times under one hour. The hexacopter represents Amazon’s latest iteration in its decade-long pursuit of autonomous delivery commercialization, designed to be smaller, lighter, and quieter than previous models.

These incidents underscore ongoing challenges in integrating autonomous aircraft into shared airspace while maintaining safety standards that satisfy federal regulators and local communities.

Source ID: SRCE-2025-1764698446242-1071