News, deep dives, and analysis — every Los Angeles story, newest first.
Today, three Sonoma County residents, backed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), filed a lawsuit against the county, alleging that its use of drones for code enforcement violates privacy rights. The suit claims that what began as a program to monitor illegal cannabis cultivation in 2019 has spiraled into widespread surveillance, with over 700…
A 39-year-old Chinese national who illegally flew a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base pleaded guilty to violating national defense airspace.
On February 24, 2025, San Bernardino County Fire (SBCoFD) crews leveraged drone technology to rescue a 15-year-old boy trapped in a rock crevice for over six hours in Rimrock, California. The operation, detailed in an official statement on X by SBCoFD, showcased the critical role unmanned aerial systems (UAS) can play in challenging wilderness extractions,…
In a precedent-setting case highlighting the serious consequences of unauthorized drone operations during emergency response situations, a Culver City resident is scheduled to plead guilty Wednesday to federal charges after his drone collided with and damaged a firefighting aircraft during the Palisades Fire in January 2025, reports ABC7 Los Angeles. The incident marks one of…
Welcome to your Weekly UAS News update. We have four stories for you this week: a drone operator charged for hitting the Super Scooper, Unusual Machine to acquire Aloft, a YouTuber’s plea deal, and numerous new drone bills in state legislatures. Let’s dive in. Drone Operator Charged for Hitting Super Scooper Peter Tripp Akemann of…
A 56-year-old Culver City resident has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges after his drone struck and damaged a firefighting aircraft during the recent Palisades Fire. The incident resulted in temporary grounding of critical firefighting operations and substantial damage to the aircraft. Peter Tripp Akemann, will plead guilty to unsafe operation of an unmanned…
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has escalated its investigation into a serious drone incident that occurred during firefighting operations at the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County, with agents now canvassing high-profile neighborhoods for evidence. The collision between an unauthorized civilian drone and a firefighting aircraft marks a significant escalation in the ongoing challenges of…
The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department has arrested two individuals for flying unauthorized drones in areas affected by the Eaton Fire
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