Amazon drone on delivery crashes into garden just months after local feared 'it could hit a baby'

Amazon drone on delivery crashes into garden just months after local feared 'it could hit a baby' Amazon Prime air teams and firefighters were called to Beaumont Hill in Darlington, County Durham, when a drone delivering a package collided into a residential garden An investigation has been launched after an Amazon drone delivering a package crashed into a garden - just a couple of months after locals expressed fears about potential accidents. Amazon and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) have said they are investigating after the drone, part of the delivery giant's automated fleet, crashed in Beaumont Hill in Darlingon, County Durham. No one was injured in the incident, with Amazon concluding early on that the crash likely took place after the drone hit "an object extending above the roof of a moving vehicle". But it has realised the fears of some Darlington residents, who spoke out following the launch of the firm's first-ever UK-based drone delivery service in May. One even told us she was worried a drone could hit a baby or young child. Darlington is the only place outside the US where the retail giant is providing the drone delivery service. The scheme received approval from the Civil Aviation Authority for a trial until the end of the year. John Peacock, who lives in the neighbourhood in the north of the town, told Chronicle Live he heard a loud noise early in the morning on Wednesday, believing initially that his neighbours were having work done on their property. After looking outside, he said he spotted the drone lying on the ground, its motors and propellers still running and "destroying themselves". He told ChronicleLive: "It wasn't huge but it's a substantial-sized body with a lot of energy, when the thing landed, it was very, very powerful. I don't think they're designed for an urban or semi rural environment, I'm not in favour of them at all." Reporters from the publication who arrived at the scene noted that, despite the noise and disruption, there was little damage, being primarily confined to a small provet hedge. A spokesperson for Amazon said, following the incident the initial probe discovered the drone had responded as designed when encountering an obstacle. They said: “While our investigation is ongoing, our initial assessment is that an object extending above the roof of a moving vehicle inadvertently came into contact with a Prime Air drone during delivery. Following the contact, the drone responded as designed and came safely to the ground. We are continuing to investigate and are working closely with the relevant regulatory authorities." A spokesperson for the AAIB, also confirming the incident, said an "accident" took place when the drone encountered difficulties. They said: "An accident involving a drone that was delivering a package in Darlington was reported to the AAIB. An investigation has been launched, and we have begun making inquiries." Darlington was chosen as the site of Amazon's first UK drone delivery service, Amazon Prime Air, on May 7 this year and sees drones deliver small ites weighing less than 5lb (2.2kg). The packages are sped to customers in a small, 7.5-mile radius from a local fulfilment centre, and they arrive in just under two hours. Similar services are currently operative in the US, where deliveries can be carried out in just over half an hour - around 36 minutes. But the new service has encountered resistance both in the UK and stateside. But Darlington residents speaking earlier this year had outlined their fears about the service to the Mirror, saying following its rollout that they worried the technology could malfunction. Among those worried about the drones was Mary Warner, 56, who said at the time that she hadn't used the service. She said: "I would be very unhappy to see an airborne drone. They could run out of battery power due to human error and land on someone’s head, the worst case scenario being a baby. The noise would be quite unnerving." Not all residents were opposed to the service, however, with Majorie Dunn raving about the experience after having twice ordered items using Amazon Air. She told the Mirror: "I’m fortunate to live off the beaten track so have no worries about parcels being stolen. "We also have plenty of green round us for a soft landing. I missed the first delivery as I wasn’t at home so made sure I was at home for the second. There was a loud buzzing and the drone appeared over outlet rooftop and hovered over the lawn before releasing the parcel. It did drop it but both parcels were safe. Then the drone quickly gained height and flew off. I enjoyed the new experience." Amazon has insisted that its drones have been able to carry out hundreds of thousands of deliveries globally with "very few mishaps", despite a handful of previous crash incidents - again involving no injuries - in the US. A spokesperson told the Mirror: "We won't cut corners. Prime Air systems are built with multiple safety features. Our MK30 drone has received Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approval to fly Beyond Visual Line of Sight. This enables drones to navigate safely to their destinations and return, ensuring the safety of people, pets, and property."