A Tesla crashed into a private jet while in Smart Summon Mode

A Tesla appeared to crash into a private jet valued between $3 million and $3.5 million while in its self-driving Smart Summon mode on Friday, according to a witness.

A Reddit user with the username u/smiteme said they witnessed the event and posted a video of the incident to the platform.

The footage shows a driverless Tesla crashing into a Cirrus Vision Jet at Felt Fields Airport in Spokane, Washington. The airport did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment made outside normal working hours.

Cirrus confirmed to Insider that the plane was a Cirrus Vision Jet priced between $3 million and $3.5 million and belonged to a customer, who it was unable to identify. It is unclear how much damage the car or plane sustained in the incident.

The Reddit user u/smiteme, who asked not to share their real name, told Insider they were at the event, which was put on by Cirrus.

They said: “It was at Felts Field airport in Spokane for an event put on by Cirrus. I’m not sure whose jet it was — it arrived later into the event (there was another Vision jet and several Cirrus planes there as well).”

They added: “I don’t know the owners of either vehicle. Just that the Tesla owner was using summon.”

Tesla’s Smart Summon mode allows its driver to hail the car using their phone within a distance of 200 feet. The feature reportedly caused havoc when it was first rolled out in 2019, with some Teslas reportedly driving into foliage or being involved in near-misses.

Tesla did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment outside normal working hours.

Tesla’s website carries a number of warnings for its Smart Summon mode. These include the fact that it is a Beta feature and that as such the car should be continually monitored by its owner while in that mode.

“Smart Summon is designed and intended for use only on parking lots and driveways located on private property where the surrounding area is familiar and predictable. Do not use Smart Summon on public roads,” one of the warnings states.

Self-driving technology is receiving gradual approval by US regulators. In March, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration approved the production and deployment of cars without steering wheels or pedals in a landmark ruling.

See more here: msn.com

Bold emphasis added

Header image: Forbes

Please Donate Below To Support Our Ongoing Work To Defend The Scientific Method

PRINCIPIA SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL, legally registered in the UK as a company incorporated for charitable purposes. Head Office: 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX. 

Trackback from your site.

Comments (2)

  • Avatar

    Howdy

    |

    Tesla’s website carries a number of warnings for its Smart Summon mode. These include the fact that it “is a Beta feature and that as such the car should be continually monitored by its owner while in that mode.”
    A beta feature that is thoroughly dangerous.

    ““Smart Summon is designed and intended for use only on parking lots and driveways located on private property where the surrounding area is familiar and predictable. Do not use Smart Summon on public roads,” one of the warnings states.”
    ‘Auto-pilots’ little sibling? So the computer equivalent of a novice driver who has no idea yet? Odd that it exists if buggy, yet were a person to do that they would ‘get their collar felt’.

    Perhaps ‘drunk mode’ would be better?

    Reply

    • Avatar

      MattH

      |

      The Tesla was in a drunken rage against a CO2 emitter.

      Portents of future times.

      Reply

Leave a comment

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Share via