Federal authorities and California police are investigating after someone flew a drone into the wing of a firefighting aircraft as it carried water to battle the raging wildfires across Los Angeles – causing a “fist-sized hole” and knocking it out of service for days at a crucial time.

It happened as the plane, the Quebec 1 Super Scooper that flew down from Canada to help, was working to contain the Palisades Fire, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

It was one of only two Super Scooper aircraft in use in Southern California at the time.

Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

The longer the delay, the more the fire can spread.

The fires have killed at least 10 people and destroyed more than 10,000 homes and businesses. The Palisades fire, the largest of the multiple fires raging in Southern California, had burned more than 20,000 acres and was only 8% contained as of Friday morning.

Fire crews battle the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills section of Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.  (Photo/Ethan Swope)

Evacuation orders were issued for more than 180,000 residents earlier this week. Some have been lifted.

Fox News’ Greg Norman contributed to this report.