Drone Pilot Sentenced to Jail and $156K Fine After DJI Mini 3 Collision With LA Firefighting Plane

A California tech executive has been sentenced to jail and ordered to pay restitution after his DJI Mini 3 Pro drone collided with a vital firefighting aircraft battling Los Angeles’ January Palisades Fire. The crash forced the plane out of service at a critical moment in the firefight, underscoring the dangers of flying drones near emergency operations.

Peter Tripp Akemann, 57, a gaming industry veteran who co-founded Call of Duty developer Treyarch and now serves as chief technologist at Skydance Interactive, will serve 14 days in federal prison, followed by 30 days of home detention, and must pay roughly $156,000 in restitution. He was also ordered to complete 150 hours of community service supporting Southern California wildfire relief.

Prosecutors say Akemann’s actions could have been catastrophic. “This defendant recklessly flew an aircraft into airspace where first responders were risking their lives,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. “Flying drones during times of emergency poses an extreme threat to personnel and compromises firefighting operations.”

How the Palisades Fire Drone Crash Happened

On the morning of January 9, as flames consumed hillsides in Pacific Palisades, Akemann drove to Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade and launched his Mini 3 drone from a parking garage rooftop. He later told authorities he wanted to check on a friend’s home and see the fire damage for himself. Instead, the drone strayed more than 1.5 miles into FAA-restricted airspace, directly into the flight path of aircraft ferrying 1,600 gallons of ocean water at a time.

Akemann lost contact with the drone and only realized the gravity of the situation when he heard a news report about a drone colliding with a firefighting aircraft. “It was not until I heard on the news that a drone had collided with a firefighting aircraft that I became concerned it was possibly my drone,” he wrote in a three-page apology letter to the court.

His drone struck a Canadair CL-415, known as the Super Scooper Quebec 1, leased from the government of Quebec to assist Los Angeles County. The impact tore a 3-by-6-inch hole in the wing, forcing the aircraft out of service for costly repairs.

The Price Tag of Recklessness

Repairing the aircraft alone cost more than $65,000, but factoring in downtime and additional expenses brought the total to about $156,000. Under his plea deal, Akemann agreed to repay both the Quebec government and the repair company.

The sentence—two weeks behind bars and 30 days of home confinement—was handed down by U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald. While Akemann could have faced up to a year in prison for unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft, the court weighed his guilty plea, remorse, and cooperation.

“Since this unfortunate event occurred, I truly have been filled with grief at the pain I have caused members of the community, as well as my family,” Akemann wrote. Calling his conduct “stupid and reckless,” he admitted: “Common sense dictated that I should never have put the drone up in the first place.”

A Cautionary Tale for Drone Hobbyists

Akemann’s resume makes the case particularly striking. He co-founded Treyarch, the studio behind the Call of Duty franchise known for realistic depictions of combat, and later led Skydance Interactive. Yet his career in simulated battles nearly compromised real-life firefighting efforts.

The Palisades Fire ultimately scorched more than 23,000 acres, destroyed nearly 7,000 structures, and killed 12 people. In such conditions, losing even one firefighting aircraft can be devastating.

Federal authorities stress that the case should serve as a warning to all drone users. “Lack of common sense and ignorance of your duty as a drone pilot will not shield you from criminal charges,” said FBI Los Angeles Assistant Director Akil Davis. “Please respect the law, respect the FAA’s rules, and respect our firefighters.”

Even small consumer drones like the DJI Mini 3 Pro can cripple a multi-million-dollar aircraft and disrupt lifesaving missions. The takeaway is clear: if a wildfire is burning, keep your drone grounded.


Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=drone, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/travel-health-security/

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, dronedj.com