Gaming Executive Pleads Guilty to Drone Interference with Firefighting Aircraft
Former Treyarch co-founder admits to drone collision during Los Angeles wildfire operations.
Peter Tripp Akemann, co-founder of prominent game developer Treyarch, has entered a guilty plea following an incident where his drone collided with a firefighting aircraft during critical Los Angeles wildfire operations. The incident occurred amid extensive relief efforts to combat the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, which have recently been contained.
Facing charges of “unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft,” Akemann has accepted a plea agreement that requires him to compensate the Quebec government for damages to their firefighting plane. The deal also mandates 150 hours of community service. Court documentation confirms the gaming industry veteran’s involvement in the incident, which disrupted crucial firefighting efforts during one of California’s most severe wildfire seasons.
Akemann’s career in the gaming industry spans decades, beginning with his co-founding of Treyarch Invention LLC in 1996. The studio later gained prominence through its work on the Call of Duty franchise. More recently, he served as president of Skydance Interactive, known for developing Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners.
The incident occurred during a period of intense firefighting operations, with support teams deployed from multiple regions, including Canada’s Ontario and Quebec provinces. The Palisades and Eaton fires, which prompted international response efforts, were finally contained on February 1st, marking a crucial turning point in the disaster response.