{
  "id": 20029939,
  "title": "Amazon Expands Drone Deliveries, and Gets Noise Complaints. 'Like a Swarm of Bees'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/14/amazon-expands-drone-deliveries-and-gets-noise-complaints-like-a",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-14T19:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Slashdot",
    "slug": "slashdot",
    "url": "https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/11/14/0755210/amazon-expands-drone-deliveries-and-gets-noise-complaints-like-a-swarm-of-bees"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Amazon has recently announced plans to expand its drone delivery service to suburban areas across nearly 500 U.S. cities, including Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Boise, Idaho. The company recently opened a new drone delivery center 24 miles south of Chicago. However, the drones have already been delivering packages in parts of Texas, according to the Houston Chronicle. One resident in the Bridgestone neighborhood, Theresa Gibbons, expressed her frustration with the noise, stating that while it was initially fascinating, it has now become a nuisance. She hears around a dozen drones fly over her home each day, describing the noise as akin to a swarm of bees, but much louder. Similar complaints have been made in other Texas communities, with residents comparing the drone noise to a beehive or an air raid. In Houston, Waco, San Antonio, and Richardson, Amazon's drone delivery service is currently operating. The company previously announced expansion plans in August, but growing concerns in pilot neighborhoods could present challenges in the future. Fifteen states, including Harris County, have filed a petition with the US Court of Appeals, challenging the Federal Aviation Administration's environmental review, citing inadequate addressing of the effects of expanding drone deliveries. In Nampa, Idaho, residents have also voiced their concerns over the noise and frequency of drones. Amazon began Prime Air drone deliveries in Nampa on October 30, making it the company's first Idaho drone site. Some residents, like Randy Nye, find the constant presence of drones disturbing, likening it to living in a beehive. Nye and his neighbors were unaware of the drone deliveries until they started just 12 days ago, despite living near the launch site. A local news report highlights that Kerri Wattier in Meridian has been counting drones passing over her home, noting their noise is comparable to lawnmowers and leaf blowers. Amazon has stated that they are evaluating potential changes, such as adjusting flight paths, to address the noise complaints.",
  "summary": "\"In August, Amazon announced it was expanding its airborne shipping to suburban areas in nearly 500 U.S. cities,\" reports the Chicago Sun-Times, \"including the Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland and Boise, Idaho, metro areas.\" And on Tuesday Amazon cut the ribbon on its new drone delivery center Tuesday 24 miles south of Chicago. But Amazon's drones are already servicing parts of Texas, notes the…",
  "key_points": [
    "Amazon expanding drone deliveries to 500 U.S. cities.",
    "Residents in Bridgestone, Texas, complain about drone noise.",
    "Fifteen states challenge FAA's environmental review over drone noise."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}