Drone mail service suspended after device sinks
The drone mail service was the first of its kind in the UK
- Published
A drone-delivery service for mail in Orkney has been temporarily suspended after a drone took a "controlled descent" into water on Monday morning.
The drone owner, Skyports Drone Services, said a remote operator deployed the in-built parachute after its system flagged a technical problem.
The drone landed in-between the islands of Hoy and Graemsay and has now sunk to the bottom of the sea.
A spokesperson said the craft was not carrying any cargo at the time and there was no damage to people or property.
A spokesman for Royal Mail said that island residents would continue to receive their mail by the daily ferry service that operates between Stromness, Graemsay, and Hoy.
The service was originally part of a three-month trial that started on 1 August.
The drone was one of two Speedbird Aero DLV-2 drones launched in August
The drone was one of two Speedbird Aero DLV-2 drones launched in August to speed-up inter-island delivery from 24 hours to 1.
Skyports Drone Services said it had submitted reports to all appropriate authorities and had temporarily paused all inter-island deliveries.
The company is now considering ways to retrieve the drone and is working with the manufacturer and Royal Mail to safely resume the service.