Drone Collision Grounds Critical Firefighting Aircraft in Los Angeles Wildfires

A civilian drone struck a Super Scooper plane battling the Palisades Fire, forcing its grounding and delaying emergency response efforts.

A Canadian CL-415 Super Scooper aircraft was grounded after a civilian drone collision caused significant wing damage during firefighting efforts over the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.
The incident temporarily halted all aerial firefighting operations in the area, delaying water drops and escalating risks to nearby communities and firefighters on the ground.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation and emphasized that flying drones near wildfires is a federal crime punishable by up to 12 months in prison and fines up to $75,000.
The Palisades Fire, part of multiple wildfires in Southern California, has burned over 21,000 acres, destroyed thousands of structures, and caused at least 10 fatalities.
Authorities are deploying enhanced measures, including 'aerial armor,' to prevent further drone interference as the fires remain largely uncontained.