Drone operator pleads guilty after aircraft strikes firefighting plane over Palisades Fire

A Southern California man operating a drone that collided with a firefighting airplane flying over Palisades Fire last month has admitted to recklessly operating the aircraft, federal court records show.
Peter Tripp Akemann, 56, agreed to plead guilty to one count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft, prosecutors in Los Angeles announced Friday. Akemann was charged Friday with the misdemeanor offense that carries up to one year in federal prison, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said in a news release.
The Canadian firefighting aircraft − a Super Scooper plane, Quebec 1 −was grounded Jan. 9 after being hit by the civilian drone flying over the fire near the Pacific Coast, the Federal Aviation Administration, the lead agency investigating the case, said.
The crash occurred on the third day of the wildfire in Los Angeles County. The aircraft landed safely, the FAA said in a statement.
“This damage caused to the Super Scooper is a stark reminder that flying drones during times of emergency poses an extreme threat to personnel trying to help people and compromises the overall ability of police and fire to conduct operations," Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally wrote in the release.
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Drone launched into sky over fire 'to observe damage'
According to the plea agreement, on Jan. 9 Akemann drove to Third Street Promenade, a pedestrian mall and entertainment complex in downtown Santa Monica, and parked his vehicle on the top floor of its parking structure. He then launched a drone and flew it towards Pacific Palisades "to observe damage" caused by the fire, the release continues.
Prosecutors said Akemann, who is from Culver City in LA, flew the drone more than 1.5 miles toward the fire and lost sight of it. As he flew the drone, it struck a Government of Quebec fire plane carrying two crewmembers attempting to battle the blaze.
The impact caused an approximately 3-inch-by-6-inch hole in the left wing, officials reported. After landing, maintenance personnel identified the damage and took the aircraft out of service for repairs.
At the time of the collision, the FAA had issued temporary flight restrictions prohibiting drone operations near the Los Angeles County wildfires.
Damage and repair cost to the firefighting plane totaled more than $65,000, prosecutors said.
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Drone owner to pay more than $65,000 in restitution
According to prosecutors, Akemann "admitted to his reckless and illegal conduct in flying the drone that posed an imminent safety hazard to the Super Scooper crew."
Under the plea agreement, Akemann agreed to pay full restitution to Quebec government and agreed to complete 150 hours of community service supporting the 2025 Southern California wildfire relief effort.
As of Monday, online court documents showed, no sentencing date had been scheduled.
Cal Fire: Palisades and Eaton fires now 100% contained
The Palisades Fire which burned more than 23,000 acres over a near month span is now 100% contained, according to Cal Fire.
The fire, along with the Eaton Fire which raged through Altadena, broke out Jan. 7 during a historic wind event and swept through the Pacific Palisades, killing at least 29, burning more than 37,000 acres and destroying homes and livelihoods in their wake.
The Eaton Fire was also listed at 100% contained Monday.
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