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Feb. 3, 2025

Drone operator pleads guilty in LA firefighting aircraft collision

A Culver City man faces penalties after his drone struck and grounded a crucial firefighting aircraft during January's devastating Palisades fire, highlighting ongoing tensions between civilian drone use and emergency response operations.

Michael A. Gatto

A Culver City man pleaded guilty Friday to flying a drone that crashed into a firefighting aircraft battling the Palisades fire near Los Angeles.

Peter T. Akemann, 56, launched his drone on Jan. 9 from a Santa Monica parking garage rooftop to observe fire damage in the Pacific Palisades area, despite active flight restrictions due to firefighting operations. Court records show he flew the drone beyond visual range. U.S.A. v. Peter Tripp Akemann, 2:25-CR-00074-MWF, (C.D. C...

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