Illegal drone flights jeopardize firefighters, ground aerial operations

(UNITED STATES) Illegal drone flights are rising fast in 2025, forcing aircraft that fight wildfires and respond to emergencies to stay on the ground. The FAA says reports of drones near airports and restricted areas remain high, and firefighting leaders warn that even one drone can shut down an entire air operation. In early 2025, a drone struck a “Super Scooper” water bomber in Southern California, taking the plane out of service for days and leading to federal charges.

With the summer fire season underway, agencies are rolling out tougher rules, faster detection, and more arrests to keep aerial firefighting safe.

Rising incidents and data trends

New FAA data underline the trend. In the first quarter of 2025, officials logged 411 illegal drone incursions near airports, a 25.6% jump from the same period in 2024. Chicago led with 29 unauthorized sightings. Florida, California, Texas, and Illinois also posted double‑digit increases.

• As of July 2025, the FAA continues to receive more than 100 unmanned aircraft sightings near airports each month, straining air traffic control and diverting police resources that could be helping firefighters and medics.
• At the nation’s 30 busiest airports, drones now account for roughly two‑thirds of reported near‑collisions with commercial aircraft—the highest number of close calls since 2020.

Private detection networks echo the warning. Dedrone, which tracks drone activity for cities, airports, and stadiums, reported more than 900,000 drone flight violations by September 2024, and monthly totals kept climbing into 2025.

New federal actions and enforcement

On June 6, 2025, President Biden signed executive orders directing a sharper national response:

• Establish a formal process to name “critical infrastructure” locations (such as wildfire zones) where drones are restricted.
• Create a federal task force to recommend policy, operational, and technical steps against unauthorized flights.
• Allow state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies to use federal grants to buy detection and tracking gear.
• Require the FAA to give authorized agencies real‑time access to Remote ID data and to share geofencing airspace files in open formats that app makers and public safety systems can read.
• Empower the Attorney General to pursue civil and criminal cases when drones threaten safety or break airspace rules.

The FAA followed with rule updates and stepped-up enforcement:

• All drones over 0.55 pounds must be registered and display a registration number.
• Remote ID is mandatory outside FAA‑Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs).
• The baseline ceiling remains 400 feet unless the pilot has specific authorization.
• Most flights must stay within visual line of sight.
• A proposed rule (published in August 2025) would ease some line‑of‑sight limits for approved commercial operations—but carve‑outs would not apply near emergency scenes or restricted zones.

Officials say penalties for illegal drone flights are getting tougher and Remote ID data is helping officers find and identify operators who break the rules.

“Remote ID is like a digital license plate that broadcasts a drone’s identity and location to authorized receivers.”
Pilots should check Temporary Flight Restrictions and NOTAMs before takeoff.

For official guidance on rules, registration, and Remote ID, see the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems page: https://www.faa.gov/uas.

Enforcement details:

• Police and federal officers now work together to respond to calls, track signals, and seize gear.
• The FAA has stepped up civil penalties while prosecutors pursue criminal cases for the worst violations—especially around airports and wildfires.
• The public is asked to report drones in no‑fly zones and provide details: time, location, and direction of travel.

Impact on firefighters and emergency operations

Aerial firefighting uses fixed‑wing tankers, scooper planes, and helicopters that fly low, slow, and heavy. Pilots time drops to wind shifts and smoke columns, often in narrow valleys or over neighborhoods where margins are thin.

• When crews spot a drone—no matter how small—they must stop flying until the sky is clear.
• A plastic quadcopter can shatter a windshield, damage a rotor, or be ingested by a turbine.
• A single drone sighting can halt all aircraft, leaving ground crews without critical aerial support.

Case example:
– A Super Scooper in Southern California struck a drone in early 2025 and had to stand down for several days while repairs and inspections occurred.
– During that gap, air bosses had fewer tools to steer flames away from homes; investigators used Remote ID to locate the operator, leading to federal charges.

Regional and systemic impacts:

• Each near miss forces a review and can delay takeoffs or cause diversions—delays that ripple to hospitals, fire bases, and police helipads.
• Chicago recorded 29 unauthorized sightings in Q1 2025; Florida, California, Texas, and Illinois saw double‑digit percentage jumps.
• At busy airports, drones now make up about two‑thirds of reported near‑collisions with commercial aircraft.

Guidance for drone pilots — a simple checklist

Pilots who want to stay within the law and keep others safe can follow these steps:

1. Register any drone over 0.55 pounds and display the registration number on the frame.
2. Use Remote ID (built‑in or a broadcast module) unless flying inside a FRIA.
3. Before every flight, check TFRs and NOTAMs; skip any area with active firefighting or emergency work.
4. Keep the drone within visual line of sight and below 400 feet unless you have specific approval.
5. Never fly near airports, helipads, or anywhere you see or hear emergency aircraft.
6. Use the B4UFLY app to spot no‑fly zones in real time and plan safer locations.

Community, industry, and legal responses

Communities and event planners are adapting:

• Wildfire agencies post clear signs at trailheads and parks warning pilots to stay away when smoke is present.
• Event planners coordinate early with local emergency managers and airport offices for drone use.
• Executive orders open federal grants to help public safety departments buy detection tools and integrate them with dispatch and incident command software.
• The FAA is to publish geofencing‑ready airspace data in open formats so apps and 911 centers can share a consistent, real‑time picture.

Legal and enforcement outlook:

• The White House task force is due to deliver recommendations by late 2025 on counter‑UAS steps, including broader geofencing, shared detection networks, and faster data sharing.
• Prosecutions and penalties aim to deter risky flying, with civil fines, criminal charges, confiscation of drones, and possible jail time for severe or repeat offenses.
• Arrests are rising as officers match Remote ID records to launch points and pilot accounts.

Industry responses:

• Companies like Dedrone are expanding real‑time detection networks across cities, airports, stadiums, and utility plants.
• Feeds can plug into emergency operations centers to help dispatchers see drone activity and whether it matches Remote ID signals.
• Industry groups provide training on Remote ID modules, safety apps, and basic airspace rules to reduce accidental violations.

Technical and safety considerations

Aviation safety specialists stress the physics and human factors:

• Manned aircraft—even when they seem slow—move quickly relative to small drones; smoke and terrain can hide a quadcopter until the last second.
• Helicopter crews often hover or fly low to drop water and hoist injured people and are especially exposed.
• The line‑of‑sight rule exists because remote pilots cannot reliably judge distance when a drone is beyond visual range; onboard cameras can produce a false sense of safety.
• A few seconds of lost visual contact can put a spinning rotor and a plastic airframe on a collision course.

Final takeaways

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the current push combines three levers:

• Clearer rules — define what is off‑limits (airports, wildfire zones, restricted airspace).
• Better technology — especially Remote ID and detection networks to find responsible pilots.
• Faster consequences — arrests, prosecutions, and penalties to deter risky flights.

The FAA emphasizes simple steps that protect responders and keep airspace moving: register, use Remote ID, keep below 400 feet, and steer well clear of emergency operations. Following these rules helps aerial firefighting stay airborne, keeps airport traffic moving, and makes communities safer during the hardest days of the year.