this post was submitted on 12 Jul 2026
71 points (98.6% liked)

Aviation

642 readers
242 users here now

Anything related to aircraft, airplanes, aviation and flying. Helicopters & rotorcraft, airships, balloons, paragliders, winged suits and anything that sustains you in the air is acceptable to post here.

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
spiritedpause@lemmy.world
71
LAPD helicopter makes emergency landing after being hit by drone at Encino brush fire (abc7.com)
submitted 14 hours ago by 0xebfe@lemmy.today to c/aviation@lemmy.world
15 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Water-dropping choppers were brought in to help keep the fire from spreading. The Los Angeles Police Department said a drone smacked into one of its helicopters, which was dispatched to the scene of the fire. Police said the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing.

top 15 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 23 points 14 hours ago (3 children)

But why was an LAPD helicopter there?

Water-dropping choppers were brought in to help keep the fire from spreading. The Los Angeles Police Department said a drone smacked into one of its helicopters, which was dispatched to the scene of the fire. Police said the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing.

"We were just informed shortly, about five minutes ago, that our airship was hit by a drone and had to make an emergency landing over at Van Nuys Airport. Everybody is OK, as far as we know. They are just going to do checks for damage and the safety of the crew," said Capt. Brian Wendling with LAPD. "I know people are curious, but curiosity can cause danger."

Curious idiots in drones need to stay away so they don't interfere...

But so do curious idiots in police helicopters.

The article is written to give the impression the LAPD helicopter was dumping water, but they were just rubbernecking.

[–] ALoafOfBread@lemmy.ml 20 points 14 hours ago

But why was an LAPD helicopter there?

They wanted to see if the fire was black

[–] AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 5 points 13 hours ago (3 children)

but they were just rubbernecking.

Source? Is there any reason to think they weren't assisting?

[–] Zombie@feddit.uk 1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Is there any reason to think they weren't assisting?

It's the LAPD...

I'm from a different country, in a different continent, and even I know of their infamous uselessness, institutional racism, and brutality.

[–] AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works 1 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Yes yes, ACAB. That still doesn't make your answer in any way relevant.

[–] Zombie@feddit.uk 0 points 9 hours ago

You don't think the past actions of an organisation is relevant in determining what their present day actions may be?

Do you have any reason to believe they were assisting?

[–] OwOarchist@pawb.social 0 points 9 hours ago

Is there any reason to think they weren’t assisting?

Assisting firefighters or assisting the fire?

[–] Wataba@sh.itjust.works -2 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

I can entirely believe that there are idiots out there who would try to tackle a fire with their garden hose or a few buckets in the car. Being able to spot them quickly and let the professionals do their job safely is important.

But it's lemmy. They're all hardwired to scream 'ACAB' utterly regardless of context.

[–] AwesomeLowlander@sh.itjust.works -1 points 9 hours ago

Right? It's crazy how much of an echo chamber lemmy is on some topics, it's impossible to carry on a conversation of any nuance.

[–] ohulancutash@feddit.uk 3 points 14 hours ago

Using thermal imaging to identify hotspots?

[–] sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Seems like every time there's a fire in LA there's some fuckhead flying a drone around. These pieces of shit need jail time.

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 4 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (2 children)

If they are violating FAA regulations on their drone activity, they likely will face consequences. This article even mentions that they are seeking the operator so they can face justice.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 1 points 10 hours ago

If they violating faa regulations there no way to know who it was

[–] sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz 2 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

All I've seen in the past is some fines. It really doesn't seem like enough, but I'm not in a great mood, so I'm probably over reacting.

[–] I_Fart_Glitter@lemmy.world 1 points 13 hours ago

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said “If we find out who you are, you will be arrested, and you will be prosecuted. So any lookie-loos out there, this is very dangerous to everyone."