Firefighting aircraft crashes into drone flying illegally above Palisades fire, FAA says

A firefighting aircraft crashed into a drone that was illegally flying above the Palisades fire on Thursday, Jan. 9, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

In the temporary flight restriction zones established around wildfires, all aircraft not working toward firefighting efforts are banned.

Flying a drone near a wildfire often requires fire officials to ground aircraft to avoid possible collisions, said Christopher Thomas, a spokesperson for CalFire.

A drone, Thomas said, could easily take down an aircraft, killing its pilots.

In the incident on Thursday, the aircraft landed safely, and no crew members were injured.

When crews have to land their aircraft because of a drone or other prohibited aircraft, it means fewer forces are fighting fast-moving wildfires.

Interfering with firefighting efforts on public land is a federal offense punishable by up to a year in prison. The FAA may impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 on any drone pilot that interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations while temporary flight restrictions are in place.