Federal authorities and California police are investigating an incident where a drone collided with a firefighting aircraft, causing a “fist-sized hole” in its wing and taking it out of service during a critical time in the battle against the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.
The plane involved was a Quebec 1 Super Scooper, which had flown in from Canada to help fight the fire. It was one of only two Super Scooper planes available in Southern California at the time. The collision occurred on Thursday around 1 p.m. when a civilian drone flew into the aircraft’s wing. The pilots did not realize the collision happened until they landed at Van Nuys Airport, where maintenance staff discovered the damage.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed that the pilots were unaware of the drone strike during their flight. After landing, it was noticed that there was a significant hole in the plane’s wing, which led to it being grounded for repairs. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now investigating the incident.
This action is considered a federal crime, and anyone interfering with firefighting operations can face a fine of up to $75,000 and up to a year in prison. The FAA has stated that it has not authorized anyone, except those involved in firefighting operations, to fly drones in the area around the fire.
No injuries were reported, and CalFire expects the Super Scooper plane to be back in service by Monday. However, the delay in getting the plane back into operation could have serious consequences as it can lead to further spreading of the fire.
Authorities are warning people to avoid flying drones near wildfires. Drones can pose a dangerous distraction to pilots who are already flying low to drop water on the fire. Such distractions can be deadly and cause delays in emergency responses, which may allow the fire to spread more rapidly.
The Palisades Fire has already caused significant damage, killing at least 10 people and destroying over 10,000 homes and businesses. As of Friday morning, the fire had burned more than 20,000 acres and was only 8% contained. Evacuation orders were issued for over 180,000 residents, although some have since been lifted.