A water-dropping aircraft battling Los Angeles wildfires was forced out of service Thursday after colliding with an unauthorized civilian drone, hampering critical firefighting efforts in the region.
The CL-415 "Super Scooper" aircraft, capable of delivering 1,600 gallons of water per drop, sustained wing damage when it struck a small drone while conducting firefighting operations over the Palisades fire. The pilot was initially unaware of the impact, which left a fist-sized hole in the aircraft's wing.
LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed the Super Scooper will remain grounded for repairs until at least Monday. The grounding creates a serious setback for firefighting capabilities, as the aircraft can typically complete six water drops per hour when operational.
"That Super Scooper will be prioritized for repair 24/7," stated Marrone. The FBI plans to deploy "aerial armor" in the area to prevent further drone interference.
Despite clear Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restrictions prohibiting unauthorized flights near wildfires, multiple drone operators have violated the rules, posting photos and videos of the devastation on social media. These violations force firefighting aircraft to be grounded to avoid potential collisions.
The FAA emphasizes that interfering with firefighting efforts on public lands is a federal crime carrying penalties of up to 12 months imprisonment and civil fines up to $75,000. Temporary flight restrictions in the Los Angeles area have been extended through January 23.
Cal Fire spokesman Chris Thomas highlighted the serious impact of losing the Super Scooper's firefighting capability: "So whose house is not going to get that water to protect it?"
The drone responsible for Thursday's collision was destroyed in the impact. The incident remains under investigation by the FAA.