The FAA is investigating Amazon after one of its MK30 drones struck an internet cable in Waco, Texas, raising new concerns over drone safety and the future of autonomous delivery systems.
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| A detailed analysis of the FAA’s probe into Amazon’s drone collision in Texas and the broader implications for commercial drone deployment. Image: CH |
Waco, Texas, United States — November 26, 2025:
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into Amazon’s drone delivery program after one of the company’s MK30 drones damaged an overhead internet cable in Waco, Texas. The incident occurred on November 18 and has heightened regulatory attention on Amazon’s autonomous flight operations at a time when the company is aggressively expanding its drone delivery network.
Authorities confirmed that the drone struck a thin wire line shortly after completing a delivery around midday. Amazon explained that the drone clipped the internet cable during its ascent and automatically executed a “Safe Contingent Landing,” a protocol designed to ensure a controlled descent in unexpected situations. The company said no one was injured and there was no widespread interruption to internet services in the area. Video reviewed by CNBC showed the drone rising from a customer’s yard when one of its propellers became entangled in the utility line, triggering the drone’s motor shutdown and controlled landing sequence.
While the FAA is actively investigating, the National Transportation Safety Board noted that it does not plan to open its own inquiry into this specific incident. However, the event comes just weeks after the FAA and NTSB jointly launched an investigation into a separate case in Arizona, where two Amazon Prime Air drones collided with a crane boom. The proximity of the two events is drawing increased scrutiny to Amazon’s operational safety and the reliability of its autonomous navigation systems.
Amazon has been scaling its drone delivery capabilities since launching prescription medication deliveries through Amazon Pharmacy in College Station, Texas in 2023. The company aims to deliver 500 million packages annually by drone by 2030, a goal that will require widespread integration of autonomous aircraft into suburban and urban environments. The Texas incident underscores the complexity of that expansion, as drones must navigate intricate landscapes filled with overhead cables, utility infrastructure and varied residential layouts.
Regulators are now tasked with evaluating whether Amazon’s current safety systems are robust enough to support large-scale deployment. Although Amazon maintains that the drone responded exactly as designed, the FAA’s investigation may reveal whether enhancements in obstacle detection, routing algorithms or operational protocols are necessary before the company can accelerate its drone delivery ambitions. For Amazon, the findings could influence both short-term operational adjustments and long-term regulatory pathways.
As drone delivery inches closer to becoming a mainstream logistics option, the incident in Waco raises broader questions about public safety, technological readiness and the speed at which autonomous systems should be integrated into populated areas. The FAA’s review is set to play a significant role in determining how quickly companies like Amazon can advance toward their vision of high-volume, fully autonomous delivery networks across the United States.