Amazon Drone Delivery Tests Meet Resistance from Noise-Weary Residents

Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery service has encountered an unexpected issue in Richardson, Texas, a suburb of Dallas where the company has been testing its drones throughout 2026. Residents have complained about the constant noise caused by the low-flying drones, which can be heard inside homes even when TVs are turned on.

According to residents interviewed by The New York Times, Amazon's Prime Air drones fly as low as 150 feet above houses and backyards, creating bothersome amounts of noise. Stephanie Puri, a resident who counted the number of drones flying over her house one Friday, reported that there were 52 drones in total, a relatively slow day.

Amazon has responded to these complaints by stating that 'fewer than 1 percent' of issues raised this year have been related to noise. The company's spokesperson also compared the noise level to that of a window fan on a low setting, but residents are not convinced.