Drone hits firefighting airplane over LA – EASY

A drone crashed into a plane that firefighters use. This happened near Los Angeles. The plane is a special plane called a “Super Scooper.” These planes get water from the sea and drop it on fires.

The crash was on Thursday. The plane was helping stop fires in LA. The plane’s wing broke, and it had to stop flying. Luckily, nobody was hurt. The plane will fly again on Monday.

The police and firefighters are angry. They said if you fly a drone near the fires without asking, you will have problems with the law. They want everyone to know: If you fly a drone near a fire, the firefighters can’t use their planes.

The government said drones near emergencies are dangerous.

The “Super Scooper” has a hole in its wing. It is one of two planes from Canada. Canada sends these planes to help California every year. This has been happening for 31 years.

Vocabulary

• Drone – an aircraft/vehicle that does not have a pilot/driver but is controlled by someone far away/remotely
• Crash – When two things hit each other; to hit something, often making a loud noise or causing damage
• Firefighter – a person who stops or puts out/stops fires; 👨‍🚒🚒
• Drop – To let something fall
• LA – Los Angeles (a city in California, USA)
• Wing – A part of a plane or bird used for flying
• Luckily – fortunately; it’s good that …; 
• Police – People who work to keep us safe and enforce laws; 👮
• Law – a rule, regulation, or guideline set by the government
• Government – the group of people who have the authority to make and enforce laws and manage a country or region; the people/group that manage and operate a country
• Emergency – a dangerous/serious and sudden/unexpected situation
• Hole – An empty space in something; a tear; a rip

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think is it important to have airplanes to help stop fires?
• What are some of the dangers of flying drones near firefighting operations?
• If someone flies a drone near a fire, what should the punishment be?
• Why do you think Canada sends planes to help the United States?

• English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
• English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.

Original Story

edition.cnn.com

Canadian ‘Super Scooper’ plane grounded after hitting civilian drone over Los Angeles wildfires | CNN

A Canadian “Super Scooper” aircraft fighting the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles had to be grounded after it hit a drone flying in restricted airspace over the devastating blaze on Thursday, the local fire department said.

Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice

A _____ crashed into a plane that firefighters _____. This happened near Los Angeles. The _____ is a special plane called a “Super Scooper.” These planes _____ water from the sea and drop it on fires.

_____ crash was on Thursday. The plane was helping stop _____ in LA. The plane’s wing broke, and it _____ to stop flying. Luckily, nobody was _____ . The plane will fly again on Monday.

The _____ and firefighters are angry. They said if you fly a drone near the fires _____ asking, you will have problems with the law. _____ want everyone to know: If you fly a drone _____ a fire, the firefighters can’t use their planes.

The _____ said drones near emergencies are dangerous.

The “Super Scooper” _____ a hole in its wing. It is one of two planes from Canada. Canada _____ these planes to help California every year. This has _____ happening for 31 years.