Robotics incidents by severity

Every catastrophic and critical incident, most recent first

The two most-severe rungs listed in full. Serious/moderate/minor are summarized above; every individual row is reachable via the maker page or the incidents index.

1. Pedestrian killed on I-80 in Vallejo after being struck by a Tesla its driver says was on Full Self-Driving

   criticalfatalityCalifornia Highway Patrol

   by Tesla

   2026-10-22
2. Pedestrian killed after SUV collision threw him into path of driverless Waymo vehicle in Dallas

   criticalfatalityNHTSA

   by Waymo

   2026-08-08
3. ADS crash report in Dallas, TX involving a JAGUAR I-PACE (NHTSA SGO 30270-16196)

   catastrophiccollision

   by Waymo

   2026-08-01
4. Tesla in Autopilot mode strikes and kills motorcyclist ejected onto TX-130 in Travis County

   catastrophicfatalityNHTSA

   by Tesla

   2026-07-28
5. Tesla driver charged with manslaughter in Katy crash was Googling 'FSD too timid'

   catastrophicfatalityNHTSA

   by Tesla

   2026-07-03
6. Tesla FSD driver charged with manslaughter after fatal crash into Texas home kills 76-year-old resident

   catastrophicfatalityNHTSA

   by Tesla

   2026-07-02
7. Tesla Semi involved in first fatal crash, killing 2 in Nevada

   catastrophicfatalityNHTSA

   Semi by Tesla

   2026-06-30
8. Tesla FSD Supervised vehicle crashes into Katy TX home at 70+ mph, killing 76-year-old resident; driver pressed accelerator 100%

   catastrophicfatality

   by Tesla

   2026-06-29
9. First recorded Tesla Semi fatal crash kills two people in Nevada

   criticalfatalityNHTSA

   Semi by Tesla

   2026-06-28
10. NHTSA opens special investigation into fatal Tesla Model 3 crash into Katy, Texas home that killed Martha Avila (June 19 2026)

    criticalregulatory actionNHTSA

    by Tesla

    2026-06-22
11. Tesla driver charged with manslaughter after FSD crash into Texas home kills woman

    catastrophicfatalityNHTSA

    by Tesla

    2026-06-19
12. Tesla Model 3 operating on driver-assistance system crashed into Katy, TX home, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila; NHTSA and NTSB opened investigations

    criticalfatality

    by Tesla

    2026-06-19
13. Tesla on Autopilot crashed into Texas home at 70 mph, killing 76-year-old Martha Avila

    criticalfatality

    by Tesla

    2026-06-19
14. Tesla Model 3 crashes into Katy, TX home killing 76-year-old Martha Avila; NHTSA opens special crash investigation

    catastrophicfatalityNHTSA

    by Tesla

    2026-06-19
15. Tesla Model 3 with FSD active crashed into Katy TX home at 70+ mph, killing Martha Avila, 76; driver overrode FSD by pressing accelerator to 100%

    criticalfatalityNHTSA

    by Tesla

    2026-06-19
16. Capital Factory founder Joshua Baer killed in plane crash near Laredo, Texas

    catastrophicfatalityNTSB

    by Capital Factory

    2026-06-16
17. FDA Class I recall: Zimmer Biomet ROSA Brain 3.0 robotic surgery system software anomaly

    catastrophicrecallFDA

    ROSA by Zimmer Biomet

    2026-06-15
18. Explosion at Hanwha Aerospace Daejeon rocket propellant plant kills five, injures two

    criticalfatalityKorean Ministry of Employment and Labor

    Arion-SMET by Hanwha Aerospace

    2026-06-01
19. Intuitive Surgical recalls 8mm SureForm 30 Gray Reloads after patient death

    catastrophicrecallFDA

    da Vinci (and Ion) by Intuitive Surgical

    2026-05-28
20. da Vinci 8mm SureForm 30 Gray stapler reload recall after incomplete staple lines (1 death, 4 serious injuries)

    criticalrecallFDA

    da Vinci (and Ion) by Intuitive Surgical

    2026-03-11
21. Intuitive Surgical recalled da Vinci SureForm 30 stapler gray reloads after incomplete staple lines caused 4 serious injuries and 1 death

    criticalrecallFDA

    da Vinci (and Ion) by Intuitive Surgical

    2026-03-11
22. Intuitive recalls da Vinci 8mm SureForm 30 Gray Reloads (Class I) over incomplete staple lines

    criticalrecallFDA

    da Vinci (and Ion) by Intuitive Surgical

    2026-03-11
23. Patient death linked to da Vinci SureForm 30 Gray stapler reload producing incomplete staple line on blood vessel

    catastrophicfatality

    da Vinci (and Ion) by Intuitive Surgical

    2025-12-20
24. Baidu Apollo Go robotaxi caused an accident in a central Chinese city, leaving two people in intensive care (2025)

    criticalinjuryChinese authorities

    Apollo RT6 by Baidu

    2025-12-06
25. Haomo.AI halts all operations, employees told not to report to work

    criticalmalfunction

    Xiaomo Tuo by Haomo.AI

    2025-11-24
26. Massive data leak from Knownsec exposes 12,000+ internal documents revealing state-linked cyber espionage tools and global targets

    criticalother

    by Knownsec

    2025-11-07
27. Motorcyclist killed in Tempe crash involving Waymo robotaxi and hit-and-run driver near ASU campus

    catastrophicfatalityNHTSA

    Waymo Jaguar I-PACE robotaxi fleet by Waymo

    2025-09-14
28. ADS crash report in Tempe, AZ involving a JAGUAR I-PACE (NHTSA SGO 30270-11713)

    catastrophiccollision

    Waymo Jaguar I-PACE robotaxi fleet by Waymo

    2025-09-01
29. Tesla Model X with driver-assist engaged kills motorcyclist Leonidas Davis at Moraine Ohio intersection

    criticalfatalityNHTSA

    by Tesla

    2025-07-24
30. Three workers killed in formwork collapse at Bechtel's Port Arthur LNG construction site

    catastrophicfatality

    by Bechtel Corporation

    2025-04-29
31. Person and dog killed when speeding vehicle rear-ends unoccupied Waymo stopped in San Francisco traffic

    catastrophicfatalityNHTSA

    by Waymo

    2025-01-19
32. 27-year-old Mikhael Romanenko killed in SoMa chain-reaction crash involving speeding Tesla and stationary Waymo robotaxi

    catastrophicfatalityNHTSA

    Waymo Jaguar I-PACE robotaxi fleet by Waymo

    2025-01-18
33. OSHA: 18-year-old machine operator killed by robotic arm during sensor maintenance (2024)

    catastrophicfatalityOSHA

    2024-12-02
34. NHTSA investigates Tesla FSD over crashes in reduced visibility, including a fatality

    criticalregulatory actionNHTSA ODI

    by Tesla

    2024-10-18
35. OSHA: Worker crushed to death by robotic arm inside conveyor cage at Markman Peat Corp (2024)

    catastrophicfatalityOSHA

    2024-02-22
36. Employee electrocuted when forklift contacted overhead power lines at FMC Technologies facility

    criticalfatalityOSHA

    Gemini ROV by TechnipFMC

    2024-01-24
37. Tesla Model Y on FSD struck and killed pedestrian Johna Story on Arizona highway, first known FSD pedestrian fatality

    criticalfatalityNHTSA

    by Tesla

    2023-11-28
38. Patient death during Epione-assisted liver cancer ablation procedure in France

    criticalfatalityFDA

    Epione by Quantum Surgical

    2023-11-10
39. Pick-and-place robot crushed a worker at a South Korean vegetable-packing plant (2023)

    criticalinjurySouth Korean authorities

    2023-11-08
40. Cruise recalls 950 ADS units (NHTSA 23E-086) over post-crash pullover behavior

    criticalrecallNHTSA

    Cruise AV (Chevrolet Bolt) by Cruise

    2023-11-07
41. Cruise driverless robotaxi dragged a pedestrian ~20 feet in San Francisco

    criticalinjuryCalifornia DMV

    Cruise AV (Chevrolet Bolt) by Cruise

    2023-10-02
42. Asensus Senhance Class I recall: software malfunction caused uncontrolled arm motion after disengaging teleop

    criticalrecallFDA

    Senhance by Asensus Surgical

    2023-09-15
43. Asensus recalls Senhance Surgical System (Class I) over uncontrolled robotic-arm motion

    criticalrecallFDA

    Senhance by Asensus Surgical

    2023-09-15
44. Hirschbach truck driver killed in fall from semi trailer

    criticalfatality

    Hirschbach Autonomous Freight Operations by Hirschbach Motor Lines

    2023-03-31
45. Russian Su-27 collided with a US MQ-9 Reaper over the Black Sea, forcing it down

    criticalotherDoD / US European Command

    MQ-9 Reaper by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

    2023-03-14
46. OSHA: Worker fatally crushed by spot-welding robot during maintenance at Unipres Southeast (2022)

    catastrophicfatalityOSHA

    2022-09-01
47. China's Cyberspace Administration fines Didi 8.026 billion yuan ($1.2B) for cybersecurity violations

    criticalregulatory action

    DiDi Autonomous Driving (Gemini) by Didi Chuxing

    2022-07-21
48. NHTSA opens Engineering Analysis EA22-002 into Tesla Autopilot driver engagement and foreseeable misuse

    criticalregulatory actionNHTSA ODI

    by Tesla

    2022-06-08
49. Abbott voluntary recall of powdered infant formula from Sturgis Michigan facility

    criticalrecallFDA

    Lingo by Abbott

    2022-02-17
50. Zimmer Biomet ROSA ONE Brain 3.1 Class I recall: software could drive instruments to a wrong trajectory

    criticalrecallFDA

    ROSA by Zimmer Biomet

    2021-09-22
51. OSHA: Worker crushed and killed by Okura robotic palletizer arm at Ambrose Sales (2021)

    catastrophicfatalityOSHA

    2021-01-14
52. UAE-operated Wing Loong II drone strike on Tripoli military academy kills 26 cadets

    criticalfatalityUN

    Wing Loong II by CAIG

    2020-01-04
53. Zimmer Biomet recalls ROSA Brain 3.0 (Class I) over instrument holder following an incorrect trajectory

    criticalrecallFDA

    ROSA by Zimmer Biomet

    2019-09-10
54. ChemChina subsidiary Hebei Shenghua chemical plant explosion kills 24 in Hebei, China

    catastrophicfatalityChinese government investigators

    by China National Chemical Corporation

    2018-11-28
55. Fatal loss of control accident with Pipistrel Alpha Electro near Stadskanaal airfield, Netherlands

    criticalfatalityother

    Velis Electro by Pipistrel

    2018-10-13
56. Uber ATG self-driving test vehicle struck and killed pedestrian Elaine Herzberg in Tempe, Arizona - the first pedestrian death caused by an autonomous vehicle (2018)

    catastrophicfatality

    Uber ATG Self-Driving Vehicle (Volvo XC90) by Uber ATG

    2018-03-18
57. Schneider National driver fatal crash on I-285, Georgia, resulting in $47M verdict

    criticalfatalityNHTSA

    by Schneider National

    2017-08-17
58. OSHA: Temporary worker Regina Elsea crushed to death by assembly-line robot at Ajin USA auto-parts plant (2016)

    catastrophicfatalityOSHA

    2016-06-18
59. Two workers killed in transformer accident at SPX Transformer Solutions plant in Goldsboro, NC

    criticalfatalityOSHA

    CISBOT by ULC Technologies

    2015-11-30
60. Two stonemasons drowned in Limerick when PALFINGER crane's overload protection system failed

    criticalfatalityHSA Ireland

    Titan by Palfinger

    2015-08-29
61. Maintenance tech Wanda Holbrook killed when assembly-line robotics activated during service, Ionia MI (2015)

    criticalinjuryOSHA

    FANUC R-2000iC by FANUC Corporation

    2015-07-07
62. Contractor crushed by a stationary assembly robot at Volkswagen's Baunatal plant, Germany (2015)

    criticalinjury

    VW ID. Buzz AD by Volkswagen Group

    2015-07-01
63. da Vinci Hot Shears (monopolar curved scissors) Class I recall: insulation micro-cracks caused tissue burns

    criticalrecallFDA

    da Vinci (and Ion) by Intuitive Surgical

    2013-05-08
64. OSHA: Maintenance worker struck and killed by robotic drilling/tapping machine at Martinrea Hopkinsville (2013)

    catastrophicfatalityOSHA

    2013-03-07
65. OSHA: Worker struck from behind and killed by transfer robot inside work cell at Sodecia Sterling Heights (2012)

    catastrophicfatalityOSHA

    2012-12-15
66. Gulfstream G650 test aircraft crashes during takeoff at Roswell, killing all four crew members

    catastrophicfatalityNTSB

    by Gulfstream Aerospace

    2011-04-02
67. Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster: three reactor cores melt, starting a 30 to 40 year decommissioning

    catastrophicotherNRA (Japan Nuclear Regulation Authority)

    by TEPCO

    2011-03-11
68. OSHA: Worker crushed by robotic palletizer arms after entering active cell at Golden State Foods (2009)

    catastrophicfatalityOSHA

    2009-07-21
69. Two workers killed in SembCorp Marine shipyard accident

    criticalfatalitySingapore Ministry of Manpower

    by Sembcorp Industries

    2007-09-14
70. OSHA: Worker struck by robotic arm while troubleshooting injection-molding machine, later dies, at Lenco (2007)

    catastrophicfatalityOSHA

    2007-05-13
71. OSHA: Worker crushed between robotic arm and workstation frame at Alliance Tech Systems (2006)

    catastrophicfatalityOSHA

    2006-07-24
72. OSHA: Worker killed by industrial robot after entering barricaded work cell at Getrag (2004)

    catastrophicfatalityOSHA

    2004-03-30
73. OSHA: Heat-treat operator caught and killed by robotic lifting arm between oven and quench tank at Keihin IPT (2003)

    catastrophicfatalityOSHA

    2003-12-13
74. OSHA: Worker asphyxiated after robot started up in un-locked-out cell at JR Wheel (2001)

    catastrophicfatalityOSHA

    2001-12-29
75. Kenji Urada killed by industrial robot at Kawasaki Heavy Industries Akashi plant — first robot fatality in Japan (1981)

    catastrophicfatalityother

    Kawasaki RS020N by Kawasaki Robotics

    1981-07-04
76. Kenji Urada killed by a Kawasaki robot arm after entering the work envelope, Akashi, Japan (1981)

    criticalinjury

    RHP Kaleido by Kawasaki Heavy Industries

    1981-01-01
77. Robert Williams, first known person killed by a robot, struck by a parts-retrieval arm at Ford (1979)

    criticalinjury

    by Ford Motor Company

    1979-01-25
78. Robert Williams killed by industrial robot at Ford Michigan Casting Center — first known human fatality caused by a robot (1979)

    catastrophicfatalityother

    by Ford Motor Company

    1979-01-25