An incident occurred on Thursday when an aerial firefighting aircraft collided with a drone in restricted airspace over the Palisades Fire, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has initiated an investigation into the midair collision, noting that the firefighting aircraft was able to land safely following the incident.
The FAA emphasized that it has not granted authorization for individuals not affiliated with the Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones in the restricted airspace designated over the wildfires. The agency stated that it takes violations of these regulations seriously and is prepared to take swift enforcement action against offenders.
According to the FAA, the presence of drones near aerial firefighting operations poses a significant risk as they can disrupt air tankers, impede fire response efforts, and potentially endanger lives. The agency highlighted the potential consequences of such interference and the importance of adhering to airspace restrictions during firefighting operations.
While the FAA did not specify which agency was operating the aerial firefighting aircraft involved in the collision, flight tracking data indicated the presence of Cal Fire air tankers, helicopters, as well as units from county fire departments and government contractors actively engaged in combating the wildfires in the Los Angeles area on Thursday.
