Peter Akemann Faces Charges After Water Dropping Airplane Hit by Drone During Palisades Wildfires [Santa Monica, CA]

Peter Akemann Charged After Drone Crash During Palisades Wildfires

 
SANTA MONICA, CA (February 14, 2025) — Peter Akemann faces federal charges Friday when his drone struck a water-dropping aircraft during the damaging Palisades fire.
 
According to officials, the incident unfolded when Peter Tripp Akemann, of Culver City, drove to Third Street Promenade to park his car. Subsequently, he launched a drone and flew it toward the Pacific Palisades to observe the damage caused by the blaze. However, the 56-year-old flew the drone more than 1.5 miles toward the fire and lost sight of it. The drone then struck a Government of Quebec fire plane shuttling two crew members attempting to extinguish the fire.
 
Due to the incident, the left wing sustained a 3-inch-by-6-inch hole, prompting the aircraft to land. Per reports, maintenance personnel took the aircraft out of service for repairs.
 
At the time of the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary flight restrictions prohibiting drone operations during the wildfires. The incident left only one Super Scooper aircraft available to combat the fire.
 
Never operate a drone during wildfires as it may interfere with wildfire suppression law enforcement or emergency response operations. Know the federal crime to fly a drone in the middle of firefighting efforts.

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