Canadair Firefighting Aircraft Repaired After Drone Collision

A Canadair CL-415 “Super Scooper” that collided with a private drone while battling the massive Palisades fire in Los Angeles is set to return to service after urgent repairs, according to California fire officials. In a press conference on January 13, 2025, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed that the aircraft had been promptly repaired and would resume operations pending a final inspection by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The “Super Scooper” is expected to be back in the skies as early as January 14, 2025, reported Scripps News.

The incident occurred on January 9, 2025, when the firefighting jet suffered a collision with a private drone during active firefighting efforts. The impact left a three-inch-by-six-inch hole in the aircraft’s wing, forcing immediate grounding of the vital asset. The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) quickly alerted the public on social media, with Paramedic-Public Information Officer Erik Scott confirming that the aircraft had been temporarily taken out of service.

Although the aircraft has now been repaired, the collision remains under thorough investigation by the FAA and other agencies. FBI investigators have also joined the inquiry, focusing on identifying the operator of the private drone involved in the incident. To date, three individuals have been arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for the unauthorized use of drones in the wildfire area, although it remains unclear whether those arrests are directly linked to the collision.

The FAA has reminded the public that interfering with firefighting operations on public lands is a federal crime, and it warned that violations can result in a civil penalty of up to $75,000. Public advisories strongly caution against flying drones over areas affected by wildfires, emphasizing that unauthorized drone operations can severely disrupt critical firefighting efforts.

The return of the repaired Canadair CL-415 “Super Scooper” is a vital boost for Los Angeles County, where wildfire incidents continue to stretch local resources. Gov. Gavin Newsom recently highlighted that thousands of personnel and numerous aircraft remain deployed to manage the fires. Currently, the state is leveraging the efforts of 15,066 firefighters, 2,400 National Guard members, and 83 firefighting aircraft in its battle against the wildfires, which have already caused extensive damage in terms of both lives and property.

The incident underscores the complex challenges that come with managing large-scale emergencies in today’s increasingly connected world, where unauthorized drone flights can pose serious risks to critical operations. As the investigation continues, California fire officials remain determined to enforce strict guidelines and legal penalties to protect essential firefighting resources.

For now, the repaired “Super Scooper” will help restore vital aerial support to firefighting efforts in Los Angeles County, playing a key role in the ongoing mission to contain the wildfires and safeguard local communities.

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