A firefighting aircraft collided with a drone flying in restricted airspace over the Palisades Fire on Thursday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Super Scooper Quebec 1 plane “suffered wing damage and remains on the ground and out of service. There were no injuries reported,” announced Erik Scott, Fire Department spokesman.
The collision caused the temporary grounding of all aircraft operating in the Palisades Fire, The War Zone reported, citing Cal Fire.
It was one of two planes deployed with the ability to collect more than 1,500 gallons of ocean water to drop on active fires, The War Zone stated.
The mid-air collision is now under investigation by the FAA (US Federal Aviation Administration), which reports that the firefighting aircraft landed safely.
The FAA stressed on Thursday (9) night that it “has not authorized anyone unaffiliated with the operations to fly drones” in restricted airspace established over the wildfires.
“The FAA treats these violations seriously and immediately considers swift punitive action for these violations,” the agency said.
She said drones near aerial firefighting can ground tankers, reduce fire response time and cost lives.
The FAA did not specify which agency was operating the aerial firefighting aircraft.
Flight tracking data showed air tankers and helicopters from Cal Fire, as well as those from county fire departments and government contractors operating overhead on Thursday.
