Pilot of Drone That Grounded Blaze-Battling ‘Super Scooper’ Pleads Guilty

Peter Tripp Akemann of Culver City, California, faces up to one year in federal prison for the accident.

Wednesday, February 05, 2025 at 02:31 PM ET

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A Bombardier Canadair CL-415 fighting wildfires in California last month was grounded after a drone punched a hole in its wing. [Courtesy: Los Angeles County Fire Department]

Key Takeaways:

A drone pilot, Peter Tripp Akemann, pleaded guilty to recklessly operating his drone after it struck and grounded a firefighting "Super Scooper" aircraft battling wildfires near Los Angeles, causing $65,000 in damages.
Akemann faces significant penalties including restitution for the aircraft's repair, 150 hours of community service, potential federal prison time, and further FAA fines for interfering with emergency operations and violating flight regulations.
The incident highlights the severe dangers and legal consequences of unauthorized drone flights during emergencies, which compromise critical first responder efforts.

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The pilot of a drone that punched a fist-sized hole in an aircraft battling wildfires near Los Angeles in January pleaded guilty to criminal and misdemeanor offenses, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for California’s Central District.

Peter Tripp Akemann, a 56-year-old resident of nearby Culver City, faces up to one year in federal prison, community service, and restitution to the Government of Quebec for his role in the incident, which grounded the Bombardier Canadair CL-415 “Super Scooper” sent by Canada to help fight the fires. Interfering with aerial firefighting operations is a federal crime.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.