Waymo Autonomous Taxi Malfunctions, Traps Passenger in Arizona
A Waymo autonomous taxi in Arizona malfunctioned while carrying a passenger to the airport, driving in circles in a parking lot and preventing the passenger from exiting. When the passenger contacted Waymo support, the operator stated she could not control the vehicle remotely to resolve the malfunction.
What happened
Mike Johns boarded a Waymo autonomous taxi in Scottsdale, Arizona, to travel to the airport. Instead of proceeding to the destination, the vehicle began driving in circles in a parking lot.
Reported impact
The passenger was unable to exit the vehicle. When Johns contacted Waymo customer support, the operator acknowledged she could not control the vehicle remotely.
Index analysis
The incident highlights challenges in remote management of autonomous vehicles when they malfunction during deployment, as remote control was unavailable to resolve the situation.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.