The FAA issues strong warning after drone and plane collision near fires in Los Angeles.
It is not worth trying to obtain drone images of the wildfires that are currently devastating some areas of Southern California.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a notice urging people to refrain from flying drones near the wildfires affecting Pacific Palisades and other areas of Southern California. The FAA emphasizes that the use of drones could hinder emergency response operations to the ongoing fires. "Do not fly your drone near the fire-affected areas in LA," the agency stated in a social media post. Those who interfere with emergency response operations could face severe fines and criminal charges.
Additionally, the FAA highlighted that it has not granted authorization to anyone outside of firefighting operations in Los Angeles to fly drones in areas subject to temporary flight restrictions. Unauthorized flights can delay aerial responses to the fires and pose a risk to ground firefighters, facilitating the spread of the blazes. The FAA takes these violations very seriously and considers immediate enforcement actions.
Regarding recent incidents, the FAA also revealed that a firefighting aircraft collided with a drone while operating in the Palisades fire, although it managed to land safely. The FAA has initiated an investigation into the matter.
On another note, the agency warned that flying drones in restricted areas can result in penalties of up to 12 months in prison, as well as civil fines of up to $75,000 for those who interfere with firefighting or emergency operations. Improper use of drones can cause delays in assigning aircraft to combat fires, contributing to their spread. As of today, numerous fires remain active in Southern California, with at least seven confirmed fatalities, although this number could increase as investigators access affected areas.
