LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – The FBI is searching for the operator of a hobby drone that crashed into a “super scooper” plane battling the Palisades Fire last week, damaging critical firefighting equipment and taking it out of the sky.
The crash occurred Thursday morning near Malibu in airspace restricted to provide space for fire fighters to drop critical water and retardant on a raging wildfire.
The CL-415 “Super Scooper” was providing assistance to firefighters in California after arriving in Los Angeles from Canada.
The collision with the drone left a 3-by-6-inch hole in the left wing of the aircraft. Although it was able to land safely, the damage put it out of service when it could have provided vital support to the crew on the ground.
FBI images show damage sustained by a Canadian Super Scooper plane that was struck by a drone while battling the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles on January 9, 2025.
The Super Scooper can collect more than 1,500 gallons of water from the ocean and drop it on a fire.
As hurricane-force winds battered the region all week, and firefighting aircraft were restricted from flying in, every drop of water was considered a precious commodity in the fight against wildfires.
The lawsuit alleges that Southern California Edison equipment caused the Eaton fire.
The Federal Aviation Administration said it would investigate the incident, which occurred in violation of temporary flight restrictions. The FBI announced Monday that it would be participating in the investigation and urged anyone with information to come forward.
Wreckage of a civilian drone that crashed into a Canadian Super Scooper fighting the Palisades Fire on January 9, 2025. (FBI)
Federal agents recovered “severely damaged” parts of the drone, the FBI said.
The FAA said flying drones near wildfires could lead to disaster and even loss of life.
“When people fly drones near wildfires, fire officials often ground the aircraft to avoid the possibility of a mid-air collision,” the FAA said. “Delays in air response pose a threat to firefighters on the scene, residents and property in nearby communities, and can lead to further spread of the wildfire.”
The Palisades Fire has continued to grow since the Super Scooper ran aground and is now estimated to have burned more than 23,700 acres and killed at least eight civilians.
The FBI has created an online form where people can submit incident information, clues, photos and videos in an effort to locate the pilot.
In addition to federal charges, flying a civilian drone while fighting a fire could result in up to a year in prison and a $75,000 fine, FAA officials said.
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