The Federal Aviation Administration grounded a firefighting aircraft after it was struck by a drone while flying over the Palisades Fire near the Pacific Coast in Los Angeles County. It is a federal crime to interfere with firefighting efforts, and the FAA can impose civil penalties of up to $75,000 against drone pilots who do so. The agency has implemented temporary flight restrictions in the region to protect firefighting aircraft. A Super Scooper firefighting plane was damaged by a drone, causing it to be grounded, which can delay airborne responses and endanger firefighters and nearby communities. The Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire, and Hurst Fire were all active wildfires in the area, with the Palisades Fire burning nearly 20,000 acres and being 6% contained as of Thursday evening. The FAA emphasized the dangers of flying drones near wildfires, as it can lead to midair collisions, threaten lives and property, and cause wildfires to grow larger. It is crucial for drone pilots to adhere to temporary flight restrictions and not interfere with firefighting operations.
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Collision between drone and firefighting aircraft during Palisades Fire incident
