Plane battling wildfire near Canadian border shot at, tearing hole through tail
A plane fighting a wildfire in northern Minnesota was shot at, resulting in a hole in its tail. The pilot was unharmed and only discovered the damage upon landing. Local authorities are investigating the incident and are committed to finding those responsible.
- ▪The single-engine Air Tractor plane was assisting in firefighting efforts when it was struck by a bullet.
- ▪The damage to the aircraft was not noticed until it landed safely at Hibbing Airport.
- ▪St. Louis County Sheriff's Office is investigating the shooting and aims to bring the responsible individuals to justice.
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US News Plane battling wildfire near Canadian border shot at, tearing hole through tail By Chris Nesi Published May 18, 2026, 5:04 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google A plane helping to fight a wildfire in northern Minnesota was shot at on Friday — ripping a hole through its tail and prompting a police investigation into the terrifying act. The single-engine Air Tractor plane, operating under contract with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, was scooping water from Kjostad Lake Friday evening when it was struck by a bullet, creating a large tear in the aircraft’s tail section. The damage to the single-engine plane wasn’t noticed until it landed safely at Hibbing Airport. St.
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