Amazon drone drops package into Texas woman's pool — video goes viral as Prime Air expands

A video has surfaced online showing an Amazon Prime Air delivery drone dropping a package directly into a swimming pool in Texas. The incident comes just as the company announced plans to expand its drone delivery service to 500 more cities and towns across the United States.

The customer, Lindsey Ernen, heard a loud buzzing sound and ran outside to film the delivery on her phone. In the footage published by ABC 7 News, she can be seen initially excited that her order is being delivered by drone. However, her enthusiasm quickly turns to disappointment as the drone hovers over the pool and releases the package, which splashes into the water.

Amazon's Prime Air service currently operates in seven U.S. states and holds a Part 135 certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which allows it to operate commercial drone deliveries. The company says the service can deliver a wide range of items — including groceries, electronics, cosmetics, medications, and household goods — within 30 minutes.

Amazon has emphasized that its drones are equipped with advanced obstacle detection and avoidance systems. However, in this case, the system apparently failed to identify the swimming pool as an unsuitable drop zone. A company spokesperson stated that Amazon will contact the customer to arrange compensation for the damaged package. The specific cause of the error has not yet been disclosed.

The incident has sparked widespread discussion on social media, raising questions about the readiness of drone delivery technology for large-scale deployment. Amazon had recently announced an aggressive expansion of Prime Air, aiming to cover hundreds of new locations. The pool mishap may slow down the rollout as the company reviews its safety protocols and navigation algorithms.

Critics point out that while drone delivery promises speed and convenience, unexpected obstacles like trees, power lines, and bodies of water remain challenging for autonomous systems. Amazon has not commented on whether the expansion timeline will be affected by this incident. The company continues to invest heavily in drone technology, viewing it as a key component of its long-term logistics strategy.