Southern California fire officials notified the FAA that a firefighting plane collided with a drone while flying over the Palisades Fire near the Los Angeles County coast, the agency announced Thursday.
The strike was reported Thursday on the third day of the wildfire, one of six in Los Angeles County. The plane landed safely.
The FAA will investigate the crash. NBC News contacted the state firefighting agency, Cal Fire, for more information.
Obstructing firefighting efforts on public land is considered a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison.
“The FAA takes these violations seriously and will immediately consider expedited enforcement actions in response to these violations,” the agency said in a statement. “The FAA does not allow anyone not associated with Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones within TFR (Temporary Flight Restrictions).”
The Palisades Fire is the largest fire in Los Angeles County. Fires fanned by Santa Ana’s storms have destroyed thousands of buildings in the Pacific Palisades area. At least one person was confirmed dead in the fire area.
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