A video went viral on X, claiming to show a firefighting aircraft crashing during the wildfires in Los Angeles
Misbar investigated the viral claim and found it to be misleading. The clip has no connection to the wildfires in California.
2024 Chile Plane Crash
Misbar‘s team found that the viral clip predates the California wildfires by a year.
A reverse image search on the frames of the video led to a video published by Al Jazeera English on January 16, 2024. According to the captions of the clip, the plane crashed on January 15, 2024
The AeroTime site, a platform that provides news and insights on aviation and aerospace, reported on the crash accident featuring a screenshot of the viral video in an article published on January 16.
The AeroTime site featured a screenshot from the footage in a 2024 report on the accident. The site further cited an X post by an account called “Breaking Aviation News & Videos.” The account provided a slightly longer version of the accident than the viral video.
According to the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), the airplane accident occurred in the commune of Tacla on January 15, 2024, at approximately 4:30 p.m. Spanish pilot Fernando Solans died as a result of the crash. Three people were injured in the accident as well.
Firefighting Plane Damaged in Drone Crash
As fires in California expand and damage everything in their path, the state uses firefighting planes to battle the blazes from the sky. A firefighting aircraft was damaged on January 9 after it collided with a drone
The plane was grounded for several days of repairs. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched an investigation into who flew the drone in violation of flight restrictions.
The drone’s interference with firefighting efforts is considered a crime punishable by up to 12 months in prison and significant fines under federal law.
The FAA confirmed that it has not authorized anyone unaffiliated with Los Angeles firefighting operations to fly drones in the Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs). The TFRs were in place at the time of the collision, prohibiting all other aircraft, including drones, from flying unless they received authorization.
The plane, however, was able to safely land despite the damage
California Fires Spread, Death Toll Rises
The California wildfires have killed at least 16 people and remain largely uncontained in the Los Angeles area. Eleven deaths have been confirmed as a result of the Eaton fire, and five from the Palisades fire.
At least 13 people are reported missing. The L.A. County Sheriff said it is unclear whether the missing are related to the fires.
The Palisades fire, now more than 20,000 acres, is moving east, threatening the exclusive neighborhood of Brentwood, home to the Getty Center, a world-famous art museum that has been evacuated.
These wildfires could be the costliest in U.S. history. According to a preliminary estimate by AccuWeather, losses are expected to range between $135 billion and $150 billion
