Officials with the FBI Los Angeles They are searching for the operator of a privately owned drone that collided with a Canadian plane helping to fight wildfires in California.
Aqeel Davis, Assistant Director of the FBI in charge of the Los Angeles Field Office, confirmed A Canadian Aviation A Super Scooper plane that was helping fight wildfires in California on Thursday was damaged after colliding with a privately owned drone over the Palisades Fire.
The accident left a 3-by-6-inch hole in the plane's wing, according to Davis.
However, when a plane crash occurs, policy dictates that all aircraft in the area be evacuated, a much more dangerous effect during Wildfires,” Davis said.
A Canadian firefighter plane was hit by a drone over Los Angeles County. (FBI)
“This type of aircraft is our most effective way to put out these fires and keep them under control,” Davis said. “So when incidents like this happen, it creates a huge public safety issue and creates dangerous scenarios for our first responders.”
An investigation began, and parts of the drone have since been recovered, according to the FBI.
A Canadian firefighter plane was hit by a drone over Los Angeles County. (FBI)
“We are working with our counterparts in the public and private sectors to try to identify the operator of that drone,” Davis said. “But since that incident, we have made (more than 10) contacts with drone operators, warning them and issuing fines in previous years.”
During forest fires, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposes temporary flight restrictions, creating a barrier allowing the use of law enforcement and fire suppression drones.
A Canadian firefighter plane was hit by a drone over Los Angeles County. (FBI)
when Drones are operated illegally, This creates a “dangerous situation” that could lead to loss of life, Davis said.
“These fires are very large in size, and they greatly increase the amount of resources needed,” he said. “(Operating private drones) would take firefighting efforts (away) from saving homes and saving lives. If one of these drones went down, it would be catastrophic.”
He added that once the drone is identified, all fire suppression aircraft in the area are stopped for 20 to 30 minutes.
A hole was seen in a Canadian firefighting plane after it collided with a drone. (FBI)
In Thursday's case, the wait was shorter but still costly given the size of the fires and the resources needed to keep up with the fast-moving inferno.
Ground intercept teams consist of dozens of agents spread across the region and will intercept pilots or operators ignoring FAA restrictions. They would then face fines or even jail time, Davis said.
“Drones are probably one of the most significant threats we face right now in law enforcement,” Davis said. “If you travel, we can't. So please don't be selfish. Pay attention to the law. Obey the law.”
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Authorities are seeking the public's help in finding out who operated the drone and other drones violating airspace laws.
For assistance, call 1-800-CALL-FBI or text tips at FBI.gov/.
