Southern California Man Admits Guilt in Drone Incident Involving Firefighting Aircraft During Palisades Fire – One America News Network
OAN Staff Blake Wolf
4:11 PM – Friday, January 31, 2025
A man in Southern California has entered a guilty plea to a federal charge after his drone collided with a firefighting plane during efforts to contain the Palisades Fire earlier this month.
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The 56-year-old, Peter Tripp Akemann, admitted guilt to “one count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft.”
The incident occurred on January 9th, when his drone crashed into the “Super Scooper,” a firefighting plane, causing significant damage, including a 3-inch-by-6-inch hole in the left wing that compromised vital firefighting equipment.
“Operating drones during emergencies creates a severe hazard for our firefighting personnel, who are working to assist those in need,” remarked acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally.
“If you operate a drone around wildfires recklessly, law enforcement will find you and hold you accountable,” he further emphasized.
“Firefighters were urgently trying to control the damage being inflicted by the fires and safeguard lives. Essential to these efforts were firefighting aircraft executing intensive operations in the areas around the wildfires,” McNally added. “Ignoring the law and basic common sense, some individuals were recklessly operating drones amidst firefighting efforts.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had imposed flight restrictions during the fire outbreaks to minimize the risk of potential collisions.
At least 29 fatalities have occurred due to the numerous fires affecting Los Angeles County, which have scorched tens of thousands of acres, obliterating entire neighborhoods.
Akil Davis, the assistant director of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, disclosed that there is “no evidence indicating Akemann intentionally crashed” into the firefighting aircraft.
“Lack of common sense and ignorance of one’s responsibilities as a drone operator will not exempt you from criminal charges,” Davis stated.
“The FAA has stringent regulations regarding the registration of drones and designated flight areas. The responsibility lies with the operator—if firefighters are deploying aircraft to extinguish a fire, that should signal a need for caution,” he added.
Akemann is set to appear in federal court on Friday afternoon and has agreed to cover $65,000 in repair expenses and complete 150 hours of community service focused on wildfire relief efforts.
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