An Amazon Delivery Drone Accidentally Cut an Internet Cable

Lots of things can take down your internet, including an Amazon drone.

Last week, a delivery drone from the e-commerce company accidentally severed an internet cable in Waco, Texas, according to CNBC, which posted video footage of the incident. As you can see, Amazon’s MK30 drone tried to fly off while caught on the hanging cable. The wire line then appears to sever as the drone descends and successfully lands on the ground. 

In a statement, Amazon said, “On November 18, after completing a delivery, our drone clipped a thin, overhead internet cable, then performed a Safe Contingent Landing, as designed.”

Sometimes, ISPs place fiber cables on hanging poles instead of burying them underground. Amazon’s statement suggests the internet cable was so thin the drone failed to recognize it during takeoff. “There were no injuries or widespread internet service outages,” the company added. “We’ve paid for the cable line’s repair for the customer and have apologized for the inconvenience this caused them.”

Amazon reported the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration, which tells PCMag it’s investigating. So far, the company hasn’t received any follow-up inquiries from the FAA.

The incident highlights a hurdle facing drone deliveries, which have been expanding in the US through Amazon and its rival Walmart. The drones are built with safety in mind, but they’re still not foolproof. Last month, two Amazon MK30 drones grabbed headlines for crashing into a crane in Arizona after clipping the crane’s cable. Some local residents have also complained about the drones generating excessive noise, impacting wildlife, or creating privacy concerns.

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About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Senior Reporter

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Experience

I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.

Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

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