Drone Collision Forces Firefighting Aircraft Grounding Amid Devastating LA Wildfires

A firefighting Super Scooper aircraft suffered wing damage after colliding with an unauthorized drone during critical operations over the Palisades fire in Los Angeles on Thursday, marking a serious escalation in drone interference with emergency response efforts. The incident forced the vital firefighting asset to be grounded amid one of the most devastating Wildfire events in the region’s history, reports the Los Angeles Times.

L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed the collision, noting that the drone was destroyed on impact and left “a hole in the wing” of the Super Scooper, a specialized fixed-wing aircraft capable of dropping substantial quantities of water on active fires. While the aircraft landed safely, its grounding reduces crucial firefighting capacity as crews battle blazes that have already claimed five lives, destroyed over 6,000 structures, and forced the evacuation of 130,000 residents.

The Federal Aviation Administration maintains strict Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) around wildfire operations, with violations carrying potential prison sentences of up to 12 months and civil penalties reaching $75,000. Despite these severe consequences, multiple drone operators have been documented flying in restricted airspace to capture footage of the disaster.

The FBI is now deploying what Chief Marrone described as “aerial armor” to prevent further drone incursions into firefighting zones. This development highlights the escalating tensions between emergency response operations and unauthorized drone activities.

Several drone pilots have already faced intense criticism from the professional aviation community after posting footage from within restricted areas. One widely-circulated series of images showing devastation in Pacific Palisades was eventually removed following backlash, but not before spreading across social media platforms.

The incident underscores persistent challenges in enforcing drone restrictions during emergencies. While the FAA offers waiver processes for drone operations in restricted airspace, no such authorizations had been granted in the affected areas due to the high volume of firefighting aircraft operations.

The collision occurs amid growing concern over drone interference with emergency operations. FAA spokesperson Ian Gregor emphasized that reckless drone operation near emergency responses can result in civil penalties up to $20,000 per violation, separate from criminal charges.

As Los Angeles grapples with what experts suggest could become the costliest wildfire disaster in American history, this incident highlights the critical need for drone operators to respect flight restrictions and prioritize emergency response efforts over aerial documentation.

The TFR covering the Los Angeles wildfire zones has been extended through January 23, with authorities maintaining zero tolerance for unauthorized drone operations in the affected airspace.

Photo courtesy of Cristen Drummond / News 3 LV