Zipline delivery drone crashes in Muhanga District, Rwanda (Jul 2019)

[MALFUNCTION]

Jul 1, 2019 · Zipline · Zipline Platform 2 (P2) · Salt Lake City

Failure Mode

MALFUNCTION

Event Date

Jul 1, 2019

Primary Entity

Zipline

Robotic Platform

Zipline Platform 2 (P2)

Jurisdiction / Location

Salt Lake City

Audit Standard

Physical State Verified

Incident Abstract & Audit Findings

A Zipline autonomous delivery drone crashed near a village in Muhanga District, Rwanda in July 2019 after a technical failure during a medical supply delivery mission. The drone deployed its parachute recovery system and came down in a rural area; no injuries were reported. Zipline CEO Keller Rinaudo acknowledged the incident in media coverage and described it as a validation of Zipline's parachute-recovery design. Zipline's Rwanda fixed-wing delivery network had made over 10,000 deliveries by mid-2019 and was the world's largest drone delivery network at the time.

System & Fleet Architecture

Operating Manufacturer

Hardware Platform

Zipline Platform 2 (P2)

Operational Sectors

Physical AI / Robotics

Primary Sources & Evidentiary Filings

  • https://www.faa.gov/uas/

    https://www.faa.gov/uas/

  • https://spectrum.ieee.org/in-the-air-with-ziplines-medical-delivery-drones

    https://spectrum.ieee.org/in-the-air-with-ziplines-medical-delivery-drones

Related Incidents & Failure Precedents

6 records on file

Incident Context & FAQ

What happened in Zipline delivery drone crashes in Muhanga District, Rwanda (Jul 2019)?

A Zipline autonomous delivery drone crashed near a village in Muhanga District, Rwanda in July 2019 after a technical failure during a medical supply delivery mission. The drone deployed its parachute recovery system and came down in a rural area; no injuries were reported. Zipline CEO Keller Rinaudo acknowledged the incident in media coverage and described it as a validation of Zipline's parachute-recovery design. Zipline's Rwanda fixed-wing delivery network had made over 10,000 deliveries by mid-2019 and was the world's largest drone delivery network at the time.

When did this incident occur?

The incident is recorded as occurring on July 1, 2019 on the DEPLOY registry. The date reflects the underlying real-world event, not the registry record's creation date.

What robot was involved in Zipline delivery drone crashes in Muhanga District, Rwanda (Jul 2019)?

Zipline Platform 2 (P2) by Zipline is the recorded robot involved in this incident at Salt Lake City.

Has anyone responded to Zipline delivery drone crashes in Muhanga District, Rwanda (Jul 2019)?

No responses to this incident are recorded on the DEPLOY registry. Operators, manufacturers, or affected parties can submit responses to the editorial team; absence is not a guarantee no response was issued.

What is the current status of Zipline delivery drone crashes in Muhanga District, Rwanda (Jul 2019)?

This incident is an active record on the DEPLOY registry; no retraction or correction has been issued.