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Photo CAL Fire. The FAA has not authorized anyone unaffiliated with the Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones in the [Temporary Flight Restrictions] TFRs,” the agency stated. L.A. County Fire Department.
10 Jan 2025

Drone collided with a Canadair super scooper water bomber during the LA fires

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French Sécurité Civile Canadair CL-415 dropping water  on a forest fire. By Gérard JOYON - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15774879

A Canadian "Super Scooper" aircraft, specifically a CL-415 water bomber from Quebec, was grounded after colliding with a civilian drone while combating the Palisades Fire near Los Angeles. 

 

Photo Credit: (Above) Photo by CAL Fire. The FAA has not authorized anyone unaffiliated with the Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones in the [Temporary Flight Restrictions] TFRs,” the agency stated. L.A. County Fire Department.

 

CNN

 

The incident occurred on Thursday, January 9, leading to a fist-sized hole in the aircraft's wing. Fortunately, the plane landed safely, and no injuries were reported. However, the damage necessitated urgent repairs, temporarily removing a critical resource from the firefighting efforts. 

Business Insider

 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the collision. Interfering with firefighting operations using drones is illegal and can result in severe penalties, including fines up to $75,000 and imprisonment. 

Global News

 

This incident underscores the dangers posed by unauthorized drones in disaster zones, as they can hinder emergency response efforts and put lives at risk. Authorities continue to monitor airspace over active wildfires to prevent similar occurrences. 

Aviation International News

 

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