Drone Strike Disrupts Critical Safety Systems at Grand Canyon Uranium Mine

A Drone Collision with mine shaft safety equipment forced a security Review at the Pinyon Plain uranium mine near the Grand Canyon, Energy Fuels officials reported. The incident occurred as the facility was resuming uranium ore shipments following a recent transportation agreement with the Navajo Nation, reports KNAU.

The drone struck critical safety wires used for personnel transport at the 1,400-foot-deep mine shaft, according to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. The collision damaged infrastructure essential for moving workers and equipment in and out of the underground facility, which operates on a 15-acre plot within the Kaibab National Forest less than 10 miles from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim.

“This was extremely dangerous behavior, and we will not tolerate the reckless actions of individuals that jeopardize the lives and wellbeing of our employees or the public,” said Curtis Moore, Energy Fuels’ senior vice president of marketing and corporate development, in a statement following the incident.

The suspect, identified as Bobby Mason of Lukachukai, allegedly operated the drone at dangerously low altitudes over the mine site before crashing into the safety system. After the collision, Mason fled in a silver Ford F-150, leading to a series of incidents including two hit-and-runs – one on Highway 64 approaching Grand Canyon National Park and another within park boundaries. National Park Service rangers later located the wrecked vehicle near the Desert View Entrance.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has charged Mason with multiple offenses, including unlawful operation of unmanned aircraft, aggravated DUI, criminal damage, hit-and-run, reckless driving, and harassment. Mason, who social media posts indicate has shared content opposing the mine’s operations, is being held without bail.

The incident occurred on the same day Energy Fuels resumed trucking uranium ore from the site to its processing mill in southern Utah. This resumption followed negotiations with Navajo Nation officials, who had previously challenged the transport of radioactive materials across tribal lands.

The Pinyon Plain Mine, previously known as the Canyon Mine, continues operations under permits issued in the 1980s, despite its location within the recently designated Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni—Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. Energy Fuels maintains that the facility meets all safety and environmental requirements, citing supportive studies from the U.S. Forest Service and Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

The Drone Incident has highlighted questions about infrastructure security at uranium mining operations, particularly those near sensitive areas like National Parks and tribal lands. Energy Fuels has not released details about potential operational delays caused by the damage to the mine’s personnel transport system.

Photos courtesy of USDA Forest Service.