FAA: Firefighting aircraft damaged by drone over Palisades Fire

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that an aircraft was damaged by a drone Thursday while fighting the deadly Palisades fire in Los Angeles.

“Fire officials informed the FAA that a firefighting aircraft struck a drone while it was operating over the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles on Thursday, Jan. 9,” the agency issued in a statement.

“The aircraft landed safely. The FAA will investigate," the agency added.

Officials have implemented several Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) in the area and have warned citizens of the danger aircrafts can pose while circulating wildfires.

The FAA said unauthorized air activity during the wildfire emergency will warrant criminal charges that can result in up to 12 months in prison for interfering with firefighting efforts on public lands.

The agency can also impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations when TFRs are in place.

The news comes as at least 10 people have been killed and more than 10,000 homes and other structures burned to the ground as a result of two of the largest wildfires. Officials are urging more people to heed evacuation orders. More than 180,000 people have been alerted.

Damage from the blazes could amount to between $52 billion and $57 billion, according to a recent analysis from AccuWeather's Global Weather Center. The number includes direct and indirect impacts from the fires, as well as both insured and uninsured losses.

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