FBI Investigating Owner Of Private Drone That Damaged Firefighting Plane Battling L.A. Wildfires

The FBI has launched an investigation into an illegal private drone that struck and damaged a firefighting plane during efforts to contain the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. The collision left a massive hole in the wing of a Canadian-made Super Scooper aircraft, grounding it for about 30 minutes.

“This technique, using that Super Scooper aircraft, is one of our most effective ways to fight fires like this,” said Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “When incidents like this happen, it puts everybody’s lives at risk.”

The Super Scooper, which skims water from lakes or reservoirs to drop on fires, was temporarily out of commission during a critical time in combating the wildfire.

California officials have repeatedly urged the public to refrain from flying drones over wildfire-affected areas. Unauthorized drones can interfere with firefighting and law enforcement operations, endangering lives and delaying efforts to contain the fires.

“Our biggest concern is that so many unauthorized drones in the area are impacting the ability of firefighters and law enforcement to suppress this fire and get it under control,” Davis added.

Temporary flight restrictions have been issued over the Palisades and Eaton fires, banning all private aircraft, including drones. However, videos taken by drones flying over devastated Los Angeles neighborhoods have continued to surface on social media, raising concerns about compliance with the restrictions.

The FBI is working to identify the drone operator involved in the incident. “We’ll work backward through investigative means to recreate that drone’s origin and determine what company owns it or who it was assigned to,” Davis said.

The Palisades Fire, which began earlier this week, has burned nearly 4,000 acres and destroyed over 5,000 structures. The fire remains only partially contained, with firefighting efforts hindered by incidents like the drone collision.

Officials are reminding the public that unauthorized drone use near wildfires is not only dangerous but also illegal, with severe penalties for interference with emergency response operations.

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