Residents of Richardson are voicing strong opposition to Amazon Prime Air’s drone delivery service, describing the constant overhead traffic as a "drone highway" that disrupts their peace. The complaints intensified after the program launched late last year, with locals reporting that the 80-pound aircraft fly as low as 100 feet above their homes and schools.
Concerns over safety grew after one drone crashed into an apartment building in February, leaving it smoking on the ground. A company representative told city officials that GPS interference near the structure caused the incident and that similar buildings were removed from the delivery route. Despite this, residents say the drones still pass over their properties every few minutes.
Noise is another major issue, with some homeowners stating they can hear the aircraft clearly even with televisions on. In March, city managers urged Amazon to raise its base flying altitude to address these grievances. Federal guidelines allow the drones to cruise up to 400 feet but prohibit flying over schools during operation or over moving vehicles.
On Saturday, protesters from multiple neighborhoods gathered to demand city intervention, arguing that communication about the program was insufficient before its approval.