A firefighting plane helping to stop the deadly Palisades Fire in Los Angeles had to stop working after being hit by a drone. The accident happened around 1 p.m. on Thursday while the plane was flying over the city.
The plane, called Quebec 1, is a Scooper aircraft used to drop water on fires. It landed safely, and no one onboard was hurt. However, the plane’s wing was damaged and cannot be used until it is repaired. This has made it harder for firefighters to control the fires spreading in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) has warned people to never fly drones near wildfires. Drones are not allowed in these areas because they make it unsafe for firefighting planes to do their job.
The LAFD is trying to find the person who was flying the drone that hit the plane. People who break these rules can face heavy fines or even go to jail.