A Los Angeles man has agreed to plead guilty to flying a drone that collided with a firefighting aircraft during the battle against the Palisades Fire, forcing the plane out of service and endangering emergency efforts.
Peter Tripp Akemann, the drone operator, will plead guilty to a misdemeanor count of unsafely operating an unmanned aircraft. As part of his plea deal, he will avoid jail time but must complete 150 hours of community service and pay $65,000 in restitution for the damage caused.
The incident occurred on January 9, 2025, when Akemann’s drone struck a Canadian “Super Scooper” water bomber, creating a significant hole in the aircraft’s left wing. The plane, a Canadair CL-415, is essential in combating wildfires, as it can scoop and deploy over 1,500 gallons of water in seconds. Its grounding temporarily reduced aerial firefighting capabilities during a critical stage of the blaze.
The Palisades Fire, which ignited on January 7, has been devastating, destroying or damaging nearly 8,000 structures and resulting in at least 12 fatalities. Fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, the blaze has burned approximately 36 square miles and was 98% contained as of January 31.
Authorities continue to emphasize the dangers of unauthorized drone flights near wildfires. Drones pose a severe risk to firefighting aircraft, delaying emergency response efforts and potentially worsening fire damage.
