A drone crashed into a firefighting aircraft near the California Palisades fire Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced.
The aircraft landed safely but sustained wing damage, and it is out of service. The FAA said the incident will be investigated.
“It’s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands,” the statement said. “Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations” during a temporary flight restriction.
The drone hit a Super Scooper, which is a firefighting aircraft designed to swoop down onto water sources to collect water that can be dropped onto fires. The aircraft can
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