Summary
A firefighting super scooper battling the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles collided with a privately-owned DJI drone, causing significant damage and delaying operations.
The FBI is investigating to identify the drone’s owner, as unauthorized drones near wildfires pose risks to firefighting efforts.
Temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) are in place, but violations can lead to prosecution, fines, and jail time.
The damaged aircraft, one of only two available, is out of service until Monday.
Great week for drone dumbassery in California. This one also happened in our local paragliding community:
Updated link (looks like the first one was updated): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrbpRtxqlbM
Thanks! Luckily, drones aren’t really much of a threat to us, at least not consumer drones. Autonomous delivery drones though…yikes.
Watching this video is what caused me to come to the conclusion that those kinds of drones aren’t really a threat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX_r82srLdE
I saved this for later and just tried to watch it. The video is down. I’m curious what this incident is. I fly a paramotor myself.
Weird - wonder if they keep getting taken down. Here’s one that works (today at least):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzzcc6tM3UE
Drone operator hit a PG at Torrey Pines, PG landed safely (lucky), drone operator approached the pilot to exchange phone numbers but then ran away before info was exchanged. Later threatened the PG pilot with legal action if he didn’t take the video down.