Amazon MK30 drones crash after software update and sensor removal
Two Amazon MK30 delivery drones crashed during a December test flight in Oregon after a software update made lidar sensors vulnerable to rain, combined with the removal of backup landing confirmation sensors. The National Transportation Safety Board attributed the crashes to incorrect altitude readings that caused the drones to shut down mid-flight.
What happened
Two Amazon MK30 drones crashed in Oregon on December 16 during a test flight. The drones shut off mid-air at altitudes above 200 feet and fell to the ground.
The drones incorrectly determined they had landed due to faulty lidar readings caused by rain and a software update that increased sensor sensitivity. Amazon had removed backup 'squat switches'—metal prongs that physically confirmed landing in the earlier MK27 model—leaving the aircraft reliant solely on sensor input.
Reported impact
The December incidents led to a temporary pause in drone testing. A 2021 crash at the Pendleton test site sparked a fire.
Index analysis
The lidar sensors misinterpreted rain as ground contact, causing the autonomous system to erroneously determine the drones had landed. The removal of the redundant squat switch system left the aircraft dependent on a single sensor type prone to failure in wet conditions.
Governance controls
Amazon stated the MK30 complies with Federal Aviation Administration standards and incorporates multiple sensor inputs to prevent false readings from causing future crashes. The company disputed claims that removing the squat switches was a cost-cutting measure or that their absence contributed to the crashes.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.