Lasers - The US

Pilot landing in Des Moines reports laser strike on jet DES MOINES, Iowa -A scare for a Delta pilot flying into the Des Moines International Airport on Tuesday night. Authorities are investigating a laser strike on the aircraft. The flight from Minneapolis was on approach to land when the pilot said a bright green laser light burst into the cockpit. It was the only flight to report the problem. Delta pilot Donald Julius steered clear of the possible threat, coming from the ground possibly near the Iowa State Capitol building. It was fixed on the aircraft for about 25 seconds as the pilot ducked to prevent eye damage. Des Moines Airport Executive Director Kevin Foley said that this is not the first time an aircraft was attacked here by a bright green laser. He believes the aircraft was intentionally targeted, as the number of incidents reached a record last year with nearly 4,000 laser strikes on airplanes across the country. Des Moines police said they are investigating seven separate laser-beam strikes on planes since Jan. 1. Pilot Nick Lambert said he has experienced it firsthand. "All (of) the sudden we just saw some green flashes going through the cockpit, and we were like, 'What is that?'" he said. Lambert said he managed to look away and avoided direct eye contact just as the Delta pilot did Tuesday. "Worst case scenario, it could cause temporary blindness, depending how high you are. If you get a laser beam 50 feet off the ground, you could nose it in. You could stall the airplane," Lambert said. The Federal Aviation Administration said this is a very serious crime. The administration said it received nearly 3,900 reports of lasers being shined at aircrafts across the country. The FAA is asking for everyone's help with this case and urges people to call police if they see anyone beaming a laser to the sky. The maximum penalty is 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for pointing a laser beam at a jet. http://www.kcci.com/news/pilot-landing-in-des-moines-reports-laser-strike-on-jet/33759064 Back to Top

Police: Green laser illuminates cockpit, injures pilots MARTINSBURG, Pa. (AP) - Police are looking for whoever shined a laser into the cockpit of a UPS plane flying over western Pennsylvania, temporarily blinding the pilots. Authorities say it happened Tuesday night above Blair County. State Police say two pilots on a Philadelphia-bound flight from Pittsburgh were hurt when a green laser illuminated the cockpit. The pilots were treated for their injuries at a suburban Philadelphia hospital. The FAA is investigating.