In Los Angeles, Peter Tripp Akemann has agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unsafely operating a drone after his drone collided with a firefighting plane during the Palisades Fire. The crash left a hole in the aircraft and grounded it during the emergency response. Federal authorities announced the plea deal on Friday, stating that Akemann faces up to one year in prison, with sentencing to be determined by a judge.
As part of the agreement, Akemann must complete 150 hours of wildfire-related community service and pay $65,000 in restitution for the damage to the aircraft. He appeared in court and will remain under supervision but has not yet formally entered his plea.
According to authorities, Akemann launched the drone from a Santa Monica parking structure on January 9 and flew it over 1.5 miles toward the Palisades Fire before losing sight of it. The drone then collided with a Super Scooper aircraft that was carrying two firefighters. These aircraft, capable of scooping 1,500 gallons of water in seconds, were being used to combat the fast-spreading wildfire.
The Palisades Fire, which ignited on January 7, was driven by strong Santa Ana winds and destroyed or damaged nearly 8,000 homes, businesses, and structures. At least 12 people were killed, and the fire scorched approximately 36 square miles. Due to the ongoing firefight, drone operations were prohibited in the area. The fire was reported to be 98% contained as of Friday.
Akemann’s attorney, Glen Jonas, stated that his client is deeply remorseful for his actions and accepts full responsibility for his mistake. Federal officials emphasized the importance of drone pilots understanding aviation rules, particularly as Los Angeles prepares to host major international events such as the World Cup, Super Bowl, and Olympics.
The damaged Super Scooper, owned by the government of Quebec, was grounded for several days. Despite the collision, the pilot managed to land the aircraft safely. Authorities confirmed that there was no evidence of intentional wrongdoing, but they warned that ignorance of drone laws does not exempt operators from criminal liability.
