California Man Admits to Operating Drone That Collided with Firefighting Aircraft During Palisades Fire
Reckless Drone Operation Disrupted Critical Firefighting Efforts, Officials Say
A Southern California man has admitted to operating a drone that collided with a firefighting plane during the recent Palisades Fire, officials confirmed Friday.
Peter Tripp Akemann, a 56-year-old resident of Culver City, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft, according to court documents. The incident occurred on January 9, when Akemann launched his drone from the top floor of the Third Street Promenade parking garage. He lost sight of the drone, which eventually collided with a Super Scooper firefighting aircraft.
The Super Scooper, which had been loaned from Quebec, sustained significant damage from the collision, with a 3-by-6-inch hole in its fuselage. Although the plane was able to land safely, it was knocked out of service for several days, disrupting firefighting efforts during a critical time when the blaze was rapidly consuming thousands of acres of land.
"Firefighters were already struggling to contain the fires and save lives. Airplanes were vital in the firefighting efforts, and reckless drone operators only made their job more difficult," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph McNally in a statement. "It is contrary to law and basic common sense that some individuals chose to operate drones around the firefighting operations."
Akemann appeared before a federal judge in Los Angeles on Friday to formally acknowledge the charges. While he did not enter a plea, he agreed to refrain from operating or owning a drone moving forward and promised to attend all future court hearings.
The defendant faces up to a year in prison, but his attorney, Vicki Podberesky, expressed confidence that Akemann would not serve jail time for this misdemeanor. Podberesky stated that Akemann accepts full responsibility for his actions, noting that the drone’s "geo-fencing safeguard feature" had failed on the day of the incident.
"We believe there are mitigating factors that may warrant a more lenient sentence," Podberesky said.
The Palisades Fire, which started on January 7, had burned over 23,000 acres by January 12 and was 98% contained. Tragically, the fire, along with the Eaton Fire in nearby Altadena, resulted in the deaths of at least 29 people, as flames swept through some of Southern California's most coveted real estate. The wildfires presented unparalleled challenges for firefighters, with many struggling to meet the overwhelming demand for water to battle the flames.