Drone Most Wanted: FBI Serious About Drone Pilot In Firefighting Mid-Air | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.19.25

Airborne-NextGen-05.20.25

AirborneUnlimited-05.21.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-05.22.25

AirborneUnlimited-05.23.25

Wed, Jan 15, 2025

Drone Most Wanted: FBI Serious About Drone Pilot In Firefighting Mid-Air

Listed On ‘Most Wanted’ Page Seeking Info

The FBI is not kidding around with the pilot of the drone that was involved in a mid-air collision with a firefighting aircraft over Los Angeles on January 9, 2025. It has issued a ‘Seeking Information’ poster that is also on the ‘Most Wanted’ page of its website, and set up a digital media tipline seeking the help of the public in identifying the pilot of the drone.

The FBI is investigating the incident, in which an unauthorized drone flying in violation of a TFR established covering the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. TFRs are typically activated over wildfires for the express purpose of protecting the aircraft involved in aerial suppression of the fires.

Violating any TFR is a serious federal offense but the ones established over wildfires are intended to prevent exactly this type of midair collision. Violators are punishable by up to 12 months in prison and/or a fine of up to $75,000.

The poster includes a photo of what appear to be fragments of the drone involved in the incident as well as photos showing the damage sustained by the firefighting aircraft, a Canadair CL-415 Super Scooper.

The pilot was able to land the aircraft successfully and there were no injuries in the air or on the ground. However, it is so very important that people understand this was a very fortunate outcome but the result could have been much worse, potentially bringing the aircraft down if, for example, the drone had impacted a flight control surface or penetrated the windscreen and incapacitated the single pilot flying the aircraft.

FMI:  www.fbi.gov/

Advertisement

More News

Oshkosh Memories: An Aero-News Stringer Perspective

From 2021: The Inside Skinny On What Being An ANN Oshkosh Stringer Is All About By ANN Senior Stringer Extraordinare, Gene Yarbrough The annual gathering at Oshkosh is a right of p>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Piper PA32RT

Video Showed That During The Takeoff, The Nose Baggage Door Was Open On May 10, 2025, about 0935 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, N30689, was destroyed when it was invol>[...]

ANN FAQ: Follow Us On Instagram!

Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (05.28.25)

"I think what is key, we have offered a bonus to air traffic controllers who are eligible to retire. We are going to pay them a 20% bonus on their salary to stay longer. Don't reti>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.28.25): Pilot Briefing

Aero Linx: Pilot Briefing The gathering, translation, interpretation, and summarization of weather and aeronautical information into a form usable by the pilot or flight supervisor>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC