California man gets jail sentence for flying drone over fires- damaged super scooper

[Dale D]

I think this has already been posted but I saw it on my news feed. How bad can it get with these guys in giving one else a bad rep.

California man pleads guilty after his drone collides with aircraft fighting Palisades Fire

 

[msinger]

I think this has already been posted

Drone pilot to plead guilty in collision that grounded aircraft fighting Palisades fire

Jan 31, 2025

Drone pilot to plead guilty in collision that grounded aircraft fighting Palisades fire

A drone that authorities say was flying in restricted airspace on Jan. 9 put a fist-sized hole in the wing of a Super Scooper, taking it out of service.

www.latimes.com

• MiragePro
• Replies: 32
• Forum: News

 

[MattInFla]

No jail time. He has been sentenced to 150 hours community service, and has to pay $65,000 to cover the repairs to the aircraft.

Drone operator avoids jail after mid-air collision with LA firefighting aircraft

 

[GadgetGuy]

No jail time. He has been sentenced to 150 hours community service, and has to pay $65,000 to cover the repairs to the aircraft.

Drone operator avoids jail after mid-air collision with LA firefighting aircraft

Correction: This is a plea agreement only, and he has not yet been sentenced by the judge, and the judge is still free to impose any sentence he chooses, up to the maximum of a one year jail sentence.

The title of that article is wrong!

Read the plea agreement.

https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/akemann-plea-agreement.pdf

 

[GadgetGuy]

Please reply to the original thread here:

Drone Pilot Pleads Guilty to Crashing into Super Scooper.

Jan 31, 2025

Drone Pilot Pleads Guilty to Crashing into Super Scooper

• The Droning Company
• Replies: 20
• Forum: General Discussions

• 

 

[msinger]

@GadgetGuy that story was reposted a few times. From above, the original is here:

Drone pilot to plead guilty in collision that grounded aircraft fighting Palisades fire

Jan 31, 2025

Drone pilot to plead guilty in collision that grounded aircraft fighting Palisades fire

A drone that authorities say was flying in restricted airspace on Jan. 9 put a fist-sized hole in the wing of a Super Scooper, taking it out of service.

www.latimes.com

• MiragePro
• Replies: 32
• Forum: News

 

[Dmcvey]

Class A Federal Misdemeanor could get up to 1 year in prison.