The aircraft has been grounded until further notice, according to firefighters.
A firefighting aircraft was grounded after it was struck by a civilian-flown drone while over the Palisades Fire on Thursday. Circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation, but officials told the Los Angeles Times that the Super Scooper suffered a hole in its wing. It's unclear how long the aircraft will be inoperable.
The incident is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration, who issued a stern reminder to civilians 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 up to $75,000. 'When people fly drones near wildfires, fire response agencies often ground their aircraft to avoid the potential for a midair collision,' said the FAA website.
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