The Federal Aviation Administration said that 11 commercial flights have reported sightings of laser pointers while flying over Newark Liberty worldwide Airport in New Jersey.
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Airline pilots flying over New Jersey last night got an unwelcome surprise: green laser-beam blasts from thousands of feet below. Ten of the flights reported a green laser sighting while one did not specify, according to CBS.
Following the reports of laser beam hits, Air Traffic controllers reported to changing the landing patterns for several flights in and around the area.
While no aircraft accidents have been blamed on laser strikes, reports of incidents have grown steadily as hand-held lasers have become cheaper and more available and pilots have become more aware of reporting procedures for “lasing”. The Federal Bureau of Investigation now has a task force to crack down on laser pointing. That’s more than 10 incidents every day across the country.
It’s unclear which planes were affected by the strikes reported at Pittsburgh worldwide Airport, but Allegheny County Airport Authority spokesman, Bob Kerlik, said they are being taken very seriously. “If all these incidents had played out and we had 10 or 11 airplanes crash because of this, we’d be talking a much different story”. If you happen to linger on it for just a couple of microseconds, that might be enough to completely wreck your retina. American Airlines 348, a LaGuardia arrival, was at 9,000 feet, 10 miles north of Robbinsville. 10. “Shining a laser into an aircraft cockpit is a federal crime and violators may be subject to fines and time in jail”.
– Porter Flight 141, at 3,000 feet, 15 miles southwest of Newark Liberty worldwide Airport.
Republic Airlines 4632 and United 330 pilots saw the lasers as they were seven miles northeast of Robbinsville, he said.
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The most recent incidents happened Wednesday night. Yet these simple realities don’t seem to deter people from engaging in the despicable activity in record numbers each year. “The FAA investigates each incident and works closely with law enforcement”.
