A firefighting aircraft battling the deadly Palisades Fire was struck by a drone, forcing the crucial plane out of action with a damaged wing, officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a strong warning against flying unauthorized drones after a drone collided with a firefighting aircraft that was operating over the Palisades Fire.

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Quick calculations, coordination, communication and feedback were key in helping helicopter pilots hit their spots.

The aircraft landed safely and the incident is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), officials said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) chief warned a month ago that budget cuts had plunged it into "unprecedented operational challenges" which would hamper its wildfire response.

Fire officials in Southern California have informed the FAA that a firefighting aircraft struck a drone as it was flying over the Palisades Fire near the Los Angeles County coast.

A firefighting 'Super Scooper' airplane on loan from Canada has been grounded for three days after a civilian drone flew into its wing, authorities say.

In the aftermath the FAA promised severe punishment for anyone caught flying drones in a way that interferes with firefighting, with penalties of up to 12 months in prison and $75,000 in fines. But the uncomfortable reality is that there is little that authorities can do to prevent illegal drone flights,

The FBI said it is seeking info about the collision of an unauthorized drone with a firefighting aircraft flying over the Palisades Fire last week.

Multiple unauthorized drones flew above the Palisades fire Friday, forcing firefighting aircraft to leave the area for safety and angering those on the front lines.

A firefighting aircraft was grounded after it was struck by a civilian-flown drone while over the Palisades Fire on Thursday. The collision, which involved a Canadair CL-415, happened at around 1 p.m. according to Los Angeles Fire Department Public Information Officer Erik Scott.