https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/25/amazon-faa-probe-delivery-drone-incident-texas.html Skip Navigation CNBC Markets * Pre-Markets * U.S. Markets * Currencies * Cryptocurrency * Futures & Commodities * Bonds * Funds & ETFs Business * Economy * Finance * Health & Science * Media * Real Estate * Energy * Climate * Transportation * Industrials * Retail * Wealth * Sports * Life * Small Business Investing * Personal Finance * Fintech * Financial Advisors * Options Action * ETF Street * Buffett Archive * Earnings * Trader Talk Tech * Cybersecurity * AI * Enterprise * Internet * Media * Mobile * Social Media * CNBC Disruptor 50 * Tech Guide Politics * White House * Policy * Defense * Congress * Expanding Opportunity Video * Latest Video * Full Episodes * Livestream * Live Audio * Live TV Schedule * CNBC Podcasts * CEO Interviews * CNBC Documentaries * Digital Originals Watchlist Investing Club * Trust Portfolio * Analysis * Trade Alerts * Meeting Videos * Homestretch * Jim's Columns * Education * Subscribe Join IC PRO * Pro News * Josh Brown * Mike Santoli * Calls of the Day * My Portfolio * Livestream * Full Episodes * Stock Screener * Market Forecast * Options Investing * Chart Investing * Subscribe Join Pro Livestream Menu * Make It * select * USA * INTL * Livestream Search quotes, news & videos * Livestream Watchlist SIGN IN Create free account Markets Business Investing Tech Politics Video Watchlist Investing Club Join IC PRO Join Pro Livestream Menu Tech Amazon faces FAA probe after delivery drone snaps internet cable in Texas Published Tue, Nov 25 20259:11 PM ESTUpdated Tue, Nov 25 20259:58 PM EST thumbnail Annie Palmer@in/annierpalmer/@annierpalmer WATCH LIVE Key Points * Amazon is facing a federal probe after one of its delivery drones downed an internet cable in central Texas last week. * The incident occurred last week when an Amazon's MK30 drones got caught on an internet cable line in Waco, Texas, according to a video of the incident viewed and verified by CNBC. * Amazon's goal is to deliver 500 million packages by drone per year by the end of the decade, but progress has been slowed due to regulatory hurdles, missed deadlines and layoffs. In this article * AMZN Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Amazon's new MK30 Prime Air drone is displayed during Amazon's "Delivering the Future" event at the company's BFI1 Fulfillment Center, Robotics Research and Development Hub in Sumner, Washington on Oct. 18, 2023. Jason Redmond | AFP | Getty Images Amazon is facing a federal probe after one of its delivery drones downed an internet cable in central Texas last week. The probe comes as Amazon vies to expand drone deliveries to more pockets of the U.S., more than a decade after it first conceived the aerial distribution program, and faces stiffer competition from Walmart, which has also begun drone deliveries. The incident occurred on Nov. 18 around 12:45 p.m. Central in Waco, Texas. After dropping off a package, one of Amazon's MK30 drones was ascending out of a customer's yard when one of its six propellers got tangled in a nearby internet cable, according to a video of the incident viewed and verified by CNBC. The video shows the Amazon drone shearing the wire line. The drone's motor then appeared to shut off and the aircraft landed itself, with its propellers windmilling slightly on the way down, the video shows. The drone appeared to remain in tact beyond some damage to one of its propellers. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident, a spokesperson confirmed. The National Transportation Safety Board said the agency is aware of the incident but has not opened a probe into the matter. Amazon confirmed the incident to CNBC, saying that after clipping the internet cable, the drone performed a "safe contingent landing," referring to the process that allows its drones to land safely in unexpected conditions. "There were no injuries or widespread internet service outages. We've paid for the cable line's repair for the customer and have apologized for the inconvenience this caused them," an Amazon spokesperson told CNBC, noting that the drone had completed its package delivery. Amazon delivery drone snaps internet cable in Texas watch now VIDEO0:2800:28 Amazon delivery drone snaps internet cable in Texas Tech The incident comes after federal investigators last month opened a separate probe into a crash involving two of Amazon's Prime Air drones in Arizona. The two aircrafts collided with a construction crane in Tolleson, a city west of Phoenix, prompting Amazon to temporarily halt drone deliveries in the area. For over a decade, Amazon has been working to realize founder Jeff Bezos' vision of drones whizzing toothpaste, books and other goods to customers' doorsteps in 30 minutes or less. The company began drone deliveries in 2022 in College Station, Texas, and Lockeford, California. But progress has been slowed by a mix of regulatory hurdles, missed deadlines and layoffs in 2023 that coincided with broader cost-cutting efforts by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. The company has previously said its goal is to deliver 500 million packages by drone per year by the end of the decade. The hexacopter-shaped MK30, the latest generation of Amazon's Prime Air drone, is meant to be quieter, smaller and lighter than previous versions. Amazon says the drones are equipped with a sense-and-avoid system that enables them to "detect and stay away from obstacles in the air and on the ground." The company recommends that customers maintain "about 10 feet of open space" on their property so drones can complete deliveries The company began drone deliveries in Waco earlier this month for customers within a certain radius of its same-day delivery site who order eligible items weighing 5 pounds or less. The drone deliveries are supposed to drop packages off in under an hour. Amazon has brought other locations online in recent months, including Kansas City, Missouri, Pontiac, Michigan, San Antonio, Texas, and Ruskin, Florida. Amazon has also announced plans to expand drone deliveries to Richardson, Texas. Walmart began offering drone deliveries in 2021, and currently partners with Alphabet's Wing and venture-backed startup Zipline to make drone deliveries in a number of states, including in Texas. WATCH: Amazon unveils satellite terminal for enterprise customers -- but Starlink still dominates Amazon unveils satellite terminal for enterprise customers -- but Starlink still dominates watch now VIDEO2:1002:10 Amazon unveils satellite terminal for enterprise customers -- but Starlink still dominates Squawk Box Asia CNBC logo * * * * * * * * Subscribe to CNBC PRO * Subscribe to Investing Club * Licensing & Reprints * CNBC Councils * Select Personal Finance * Join the CNBC Panel * Closed Captioning * Digital Products * News Releases * Internships * Corrections * About CNBC * Site Map * Podcasts * Careers * Help * Contact * News Tips Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you. 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