Amazon Prime Air drone drops package into Texas swimming pool

A viral video captured an Amazon Prime Air drone dropping a package directly into a residential swimming pool in Richmond, Texas. The customer, Lindsey Austen, recorded the incident after hearing the drone's loud buzzing. The package, which contained dry cat food and shoe insoles, landed in the water after the drone hovered over the pool and opened its cargo hatch.

While the contents reportedly remained undamaged, Austen stated she would not use the drone delivery service again. Amazon spokespeople noted that such incidents are “extremely rare” and emphasized that their drones use “Detect-and-Avoid” systems to monitor for people, animals, and obstacles before releasing cargo.

The mishap occurred shortly after Amazon announced plans to expand its Prime Air program sixfold, aiming to serve nearly 500 U.S. cities and towns by the end of 2026. The service is designed to deliver lightweight packages weighing up to five pounds in approximately 30 minutes.