A firefighting aircraft collided with a drone while attempting to contain the Palisades Fire, northwest of Los Angeles.
Fire in Los Angeles on Thursday. A Super Scooper aircraft, specifically a Canadair CL-415, was struck by a civilian drone, resulting in damage to the aircraft’s wing.
“We hit a drone this afternoon — first one,” said L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. “Our Super Scooper hit a small drone.” “It put a hole in the wing,” he said. “It’s grounded now.”
The FAA launched an investigation after learning about the incident, which underscored the dangers of drones interfering with wildfire response efforts.
The FAA said in a statement, “It’s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands. Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations when temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) are in place.”
