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 criminal and misdemeanor offenses after his drone struck and damaged a "Super Scooper" aircraft battling wildfires near Los Angeles, forcing it to be grounded.
Akemann's reckless and illegal drone operation, including flying beyond visual line of sight, caused the collision, temporarily halting aerial firefighting efforts.
Under his plea deal, Akemann must pay $65,000 in restitution for aircraft repairs, complete 150 hours of community service, and faces potential federal prison time, along with possible FAA fines and license revocation.
The incident emphasizes the extreme dangers and severe legal repercussions for drone operators who interfere with emergency operations, such as aerial firefighting.

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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.