Some fine detective work led by the FBI working closely with other agencies has resulted in charges against a 56-year-old Culver City man for flying his drone into a Super Scooper firefighting aircraft on the Palisades fire earlier this month.

According to a media statement from the United States Attorney’s Office Central District of California, Peter Tripp Akemann, 56, faced one count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft. Federal prosecutors filed a criminal information charging Akemann with the misdemeanor offense that carries a prison sentence of up to one year in federal prison.

In a plea agreement, Akemann agreed to plead guilty to the criminal offense and admitted to his reckless and illegal conduct in flying the drone that posed an imminent safety hazard to the Super Scooper crew.

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. After landing, maintenance personnel identified the damage and took the aircraft out of service for repairs as it was not able to continue its firefighting mission. As part of the 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. Akemann also agreed to complete 150 hours of community service in support of the 2025 Southern California wildfire relief effort.

In a neat summary, Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, noted:

“Lack of common sense and ignorance of your duty as a drone pilot will not shield you from criminal charges. 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.”