Former Skydance Interactive president, Peter Akemann, has pleaded guilty to flying a drone that collided with a Canadian Super Scooper firefighting plane during the Palisades fires in January. Akemann, who recently left his role at Skydance, pleaded guilty to one count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft, a misdemeanor that could result in up to one year in federal prison.
The collision on January 9 involved a DJI Mini 3 Pro drone and a Canadair CL-415 Super Scooper provided by the government of Quebec to assist in battling wildfires in Los Angeles. The crash damaged the Super Scooper’s wing, grounding the aircraft for days.
According to the plea agreement, Akemann launched the drone from a parking garage near Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade to survey the fire in the Pacific Palisades. However, he lost track of the drone, leading to the collision with the Canadian aircraft, manned by two crew members. At the time of the incident, FAA flight restrictions were in place barring drones from the area due to the ongoing wildfires.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph T. McNally expressed concern over the incident, stating that flying drones during emergencies poses a significant threat to first responders and hinders their ability to protect lives and property. Akemann’s defense attorneys acknowledged his error in judgment and stated that he is cooperating with the government to make amends.
As part of the plea agreement, Akemann agreed to cover the $65,169 in damages to the Super Scooper’s wing and complete 150 hours of community service to support Southern California wildfire relief efforts.
Akemann, a graduate of the University of California San Diego and the University of California Berkeley, co-founded prominent video game developer Treyarch and The Workshop Entertainment. He joined Skydance in 2016 and was involved in the production of titles such as Skydance’s Behemoth and The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners.
These events serve as a reminder of the importance of following regulations and guidelines when operating drones, especially during emergencies. The consequences of irresponsible drone use can have significant impacts on critical operations and the safety of personnel involved.