Two driverless Waymo cars collided at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on July 30, 2025, between 3 PM and 4 PM, raising new questions about the safety of autonomous vehicles. Both cars were unoccupied, and no one was hurt, but the incident has drawn attention from travelers, airport staff, and technology experts.
The crash happened at 2323 E Sky Harbor Circle North, in the West Commercial Transportation Hold Lot. Video from the scene shows one Waymo Jaguar I-PACE, operating in fully autonomous mode, hitting the front passenger door of another Waymo car. Both vehicles displayed an in-car message saying, “Our team is aware of the interruption to your ride.” The damage was limited to the exteriors, and no passengers were involved.
Waymo quickly confirmed the incident and started an internal investigation. The company promised to share more details as they learn what caused the crash. Airport officials said there was no disruption to airport operations or passenger services. Travelers continued to use Waymo’s driverless cars for rides to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport without any reported problems.
The incident has sparked debate on social media and among technology experts. Many are comparing Waymo’s use of multiple sensors—like LiDAR, radar, and cameras—to Tesla’s camera-based system. Ford CEO Jim Farley has praised Waymo’s sensor approach, saying it can be safer in some situations. Others point out that the media often focuses more on Tesla crashes, even though this event involved two Waymo cars.
Waymo has been running a 24/7 autonomous ride-hailing service at Phoenix Sky Harbor since 2022. The company recently expanded its service area to cover 225 square miles and now provides over 10,000 trips per week. Passengers can hail Waymo cars from terminal curbs or Sky Train stations. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Waymo’s safety data shows that in most past crashes, human drivers were at fault. This event is unusual because both cars were driverless and operated by Waymo.
Waymo recently updated its software to help cars interact better and predict what other vehicles will do. The company also started testing fully autonomous freeway driving in Phoenix. After the crash, Waymo is expected to review its software and safety rules, and share what it learns with the public.
For now, there are no changes to passenger procedures at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Travelers can keep using Waymo’s driverless cars as usual. Regulators may look more closely at autonomous vehicle safety, but no new rules have been announced yet.
Collisions between two autonomous cars from the same company are extremely rare. The only similar event often mentioned happened during the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge. Waymo’s Phoenix operations are part of a larger rollout in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta.
For official updates, travelers and interested readers can check the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport website or the Waymo blog. As the investigation continues, Waymo has promised to keep the public informed and to take any needed steps to improve safety for all users.
Learn Today
Waymo → A company specializing in autonomous vehicle technology and driverless ride-hailing services.
LiDAR → Light Detection and Ranging sensor that measures distances by illuminating targets with laser light.
Autonomous vehicle → A vehicle capable of sensing its environment and operating without human input.
Sky Harbor International Airport → Main airport serving Phoenix, Arizona, where the Waymo collision occurred.
Driverless car → A vehicle that can navigate and operate on public roads without a human driver.
This Article in a Nutshell
On July 30, 2025, two unoccupied Waymo driverless cars collided at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. No injuries or operational disruptions occurred. The crash provokes safety debates while Waymo investigates, reaffirming their commitment to autonomous ride improvements amid expanding 24/7 services covering 225 square miles and over 10,000 weekly trips.
— By VisaVerge.com
