Palisades Fire: Man charged with crashing drone into Super Scooper
Palisades Fire: Drone operator pleads guilty to charges
Federal charges were filed against a drone operator who used the device while the Palisades Fire was raging, officials announced Friday.
LOS ANGELES - A Culver City man has pleaded guilty to recklessly operating a drone that crashed into a Super Scooper aircraft that was fighting the Palisades Fire.
Peter Tripp Akemann, 56, agreed to plead guilty to one count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft.
Akemann was charged with a misdemeanor offense that carries a prison sentence of up to one year in federal prison, according to the Department of Justice.
Man who damaged super scooper with drone to plead guilty
Peter Akemann, the man accused of damaging a super scooper plane with a drone while flying it over the Palisades Fire, has pleaded guilty.
In a plea agreement, Akemann agreed to pay full restitution to the Government of Quebec, which supplied the plane, and an aircraft repair company that repaired the plane. He has also agreed to complete 150 hours of community service.
The Super Scooper sustained minor damage and was grounded for several days, hindering the firefight.
According to federal law enforcement officials, Akemann was at the Third Street Promenade on Jan. 9 when he went to the top floor of a parking structure and launched his drone to view the Palisades Fire area.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Super scooper damaged by drone ready to fly again
- Drone hits, grounds 1 of 2 'Super Scoopers' fighting Palisades Fire
Super Scooper hit by drone grounded until Monday
LA County only has two Super Scoopers both on loan from Quebec. With one of them out of operation until Monday, it makes the firefight much harder. (January 10, 2025)
"Akemann flew the drone at least 2,500 meters (more than 1.5 miles) toward the fire and lost sight of the drone. As Akemann was flying the drone, it collided with a Government of Quebec Super Scooper carrying two crewmembers attempting to fight the blaze. The impact caused an approximately 3-inch-by-6-inch hole in the left wing," the DOJ wrote in a statement.
During the firefight, the Federal Aviation Administration had issued temporary flight restrictions that prohibited drone operations near wildfires.
It does not appear that Akermann is a licensed drone operator.
"Lack of common sense and ignorance of your duty as a drone pilot will not shield you from criminal charges," said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. "Please respect the law, respect the FAA’s rules and respect our firefighters and the residents they are protecting by keeping your drone at home during wildfires."