Quebec Water Bomber Struck by Drone During Training Exercise

Incident Details

During a routine training flight near Mirabel Airport, a Quebec government-owned water bomber collided with a drone at approximately 1,000 feet (305 meters) altitude. The collision occurred while the specialized firefighting aircraft was conducting water scooping over Lake Mirabel to deal with the wildfire.
Transport Canada confirmed the CL-415 sustained minor damage to its right wing but remained airborne and returned safely to base. No injuries were reported among the three crew members.

CL-415

Investigation Findings

reliminary investigation by the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) revealed:
•The drone operator lacked proper certification
•The aircraft was flying well above the legal 400-foot ceiling for drones
•No authorization was obtained for operations near active flight paths
"This reckless operation endangered lives and valuable firefighting assets," stated Transport Canada spokesperson Élise Dubois. "The drone operator now faces fines up to $25,000 CAD and 12-month prison."

Injuried site of the aircraft

Aviation Safety Concerns

The incident highlights growing concerns:
•2024 saw 47 reported drone near-misses with aircraft in Canada
•Water bombers operate at low altitudes vulnerable to drone strikes
•Firefighting operations could be compromised during peak wildfire season
SOPFEU (Quebec's wildfire agency) temporarily suspended work of the CL-415 which was collided by the drone pending full safety review. The damaged CL-415, valued at over $30 million CAD, remains grounded for inspection.

 News report

Regulatory Response

Transport Canada reminds drone operators:
•✅ Always maintain visual line of sight
•✅ Stay below 400 feet AGL
•✅ Obtain certification for operations near airports
•❌ Never fly near emergency operations
"This incident demonstrates why we're strengthening drone regulations," Dubois added, noting enhanced monitoring systems will be deployed near critical infrastructure this fire season.