Accidents
Civil Drone Causes Midair Collision with Super Scooper
Damage to a wing leading edge grounded the CL-415 water bomber
Quebec 1
© Los Angeles Fire Department

A Canadair CL-415 aerial firefighter collided with a drone while flying over the Palisades fire near Los Angeles yesterday, according to the County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD). In a post on X, LACoFD said “SuperScooper Quebec 1 was struck by a civilian drone that was not assigned to the Palisades fire.”

One of the airplane’s wing leading edges showed a deep indentation and cut metal in the photo attached to the X post, and Quebec 1 “was taken out of service,” according to LACoFD. The agency added that “flying a drone in the midst of firefighting efforts is a federal crime and punishable by up to 12 months in prison or a fine of $75,000.”

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