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Amazon is facing a new setback in its decade-long effort to develop large-scale drone delivery, after one of its MK30 aircraft accidentally severed a residential internet cable in Waco, Texas. The incident, which occurred on November 18, has triggered a formal investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and renewed scrutiny of Amazon’s ambitious aerial-delivery program.

The drone had successfully delivered a package and was ascending from a customer’s yard when one of its six propellers became entangled in a nearby internet line. Video footage verified by news outlets shows the aircraft slicing through the cable before its motor abruptly shut down, allowing the drone to perform what Amazon describes as a “safe contingent landing.” The device appeared mostly intact other than damage to a single propeller.

According to Amazon, no one was injured and local internet service was not widely impacted. The company paid for the repair and apologized to the affected household.

Regulators Respond While Amazon Faces Mounting Pressure

The FAA confirmed it is investigating the incident, while the National Transportation Safety Board said it is aware of what happened but has not opened its own inquiry. This marks yet another challenge for Amazon’s Prime Air division, which is working to scale up drone deliveries across the United States.

The Texas crash comes just weeks after federal investigators launched a separate probe into a collision involving two Amazon drones in Tolleson, Arizona, where aircraft struck a construction crane, prompting a temporary suspension of drone deliveries in that region.

Amazon’s Drone Ambitions and Ongoing Hurdles

Amazon has spent more than ten years building the infrastructure needed to fulfill its founder Jeff Bezos’ vision of 30-minute airborne deliveries for small household items. The company began its first commercial drone operations in 2022 in College Station, Texas, and Lockeford, California. Since then it has expanded service to Kansas City, Pontiac, San Antonio, Ruskin, and most recently Waco — with plans to add Richardson, Texas.

But the road to mass adoption has been slower than expected. Regulatory requirements, technical challenges, safety standards, and internal restructuring have repeatedly delayed progress. Layoffs in 2023, part of broader cost-cutting measures under CEO Andy Jassy, also impacted the pace of development.

Despite this, Amazon still publicly maintains its long-term target: delivering 500 million packages a year by drone before 2030.

The MK30 Drone and Safety Measures

The MK30 — Amazon’s latest hexacopter-style drone — is designed to be lighter, quieter, and more efficient than prior versions. It features a sense-and-avoid system intended to keep the drone clear of obstacles both in the air and on the ground. Amazon advises customers to provide at least ten feet of clear space for landings, and deliveries are only offered for items weighing five pounds or less.

In Waco, Amazon’s drone program launched earlier this month for customers within a designated radius of its same-day delivery facility. Deliveries are expected to be completed in under an hour.

Competitive Landscape Heats Up

While Amazon pushes to refine Prime Air, Walmart has rapidly expanded its own drone delivery footprint, partnering with companies such as Alphabet’s Wing and the startup Zipline. Walmart now offers drone delivery in multiple states, including Texas — intensifying competitive pressure on Amazon to modernize and scale its program faster.

The Texas cable-snapping incident adds to the growing list of operational challenges Amazon must overcome to gain regulatory support and public trust. For now, the FAA’s findings will play a significant role in shaping the next phase of Amazon’s drone-delivery ambitions.