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U.S. Authorities Investigate Amazon Drone Crashes in Arizona

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The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched investigations into two Amazon Prime Air delivery drones that crashed after colliding with a crane in Tolleson, Arizona, on Wednesday.

Amazon had started its drone delivery service in the Phoenix metro area’s West Valley in November 2024, allowing customers to receive small packages—up to 5 pounds (2.3 kg)—within an hour. The company paused drone operations in Arizona following the incident but said they would resume flights on Friday.

Amazon spokesperson Terrence Clark stated that the company’s internal review found no technical malfunction in the drones or their supporting systems. He emphasized that “safety is our top priority,” and announced new measures such as enhanced visual landscape inspections to better detect moving obstacles like cranes in future operations.

The accidents come as Amazon continues to push toward its ambitious goal of delivering 500 million packages per year by drone by 2030. The company has been steadily expanding its autonomous delivery network, including a 2023 partnership with Amazon Pharmacy to deliver prescription medications by drone in College Station, Texas.

Broader regulatory shifts are also underway. In August 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation proposed updated rules allowing drones to fly beyond the visual line of sight of operators—an essential step toward mainstream drone delivery. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described the initiative as transformative: “It’s going to change the way that people and products move throughout our airspace… You may get your Amazon package—or even your Starbucks coffee—from a drone.”

The Tolleson incident underscores both the promise and complexity of integrating drones into everyday logistics, as regulators and industry leaders race to balance innovation with airspace safety.

Tesla gains approval to test robotaxis in Arizona

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Tesla has secured approval from the Arizona Department of Transportation to begin testing autonomous robotaxi vehicles in the Phoenix metro area, the agency confirmed Friday. The trials will initially involve cars equipped with safety drivers to monitor operations.

Tesla applied for the permit in June as part of CEO Elon Musk’s plan to launch an autonomous ride-hailing service that could reach half of the U.S. population by the end of the year. While no start date or trial duration has been disclosed, Arizona’s approval marks a significant expansion of Tesla’s robotaxi testing beyond its limited pilot in Austin, Texas, launched earlier this year.

In Austin, Tesla trialed about a dozen vehicles under strict conditions, including a safety monitor in the front passenger seat and a select group of passengers. The Arizona expansion puts Tesla into one of the nation’s most competitive self-driving markets, where Waymo and Cruise have already been testing robotaxi services.

The approval reflects growing state-level support for autonomous vehicle experimentation, even as federal regulators continue to scrutinize safety and data transparency. For Tesla, success in Arizona could provide critical validation for its long-promised robotaxi ambitions.

SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son Proposes $1 Trillion Arizona AI and Robotics Hub

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SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son is planning a $1 trillion industrial complex in Arizona focused on robotics and artificial intelligence, Bloomberg News reported Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The ambitious project aims to revive high-end tech manufacturing in the U.S. and create a hub akin to China’s manufacturing powerhouse, Shenzhen.

Son is reportedly seeking to partner with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) for the venture, codenamed Project Crystal Land, though the exact role TSMC would play and its interest level remain unclear. TSMC is already investing heavily in U.S. chip manufacturing with planned investments totaling $165 billion.

SoftBank officials have engaged in discussions with U.S. federal and state officials, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, to explore tax incentives for companies that build factories or invest in the industrial park.

The project also seeks interest from other tech giants such as Samsung Electronics. However, the plans are preliminary and dependent on support from the Trump administration and state authorities.

If realized, the $1 trillion investment would surpass the scale of the $500 billion “Stargate” project, a U.S. data center expansion funded by SoftBank, OpenAI, and Oracle.

SoftBank and TSMC have declined to comment on the report. The White House and Department of Commerce did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

This proposed initiative follows several major SoftBank investments this year, including its $6.5 billion acquisition of semiconductor designer Ampere and up to $40 billion commitment to OpenAI, part of which may be syndicated to other investors. Recently, SoftBank also raised $4.8 billion by selling shares in T-Mobile.