Pilot is nearly blinded by huge green laser while trying to land plane
Topics: Travel, Technology
Stewart Perrie
Featured Image Credit: Catalina Gabriel / CATERS NEWS
Topics: Travel, Technology
A pilot has faced a difficult landing after someone shined a huge green laser at the cockpit.
Flight attendant Catalina Gabriel took out his phone to film the incredible moment as the plane was preparing to make 'the hardest part of a flight'.
You can see the pilot doing their best to shield their eyes from the laser as it beamed directly onto their face.
They even had to hold up a piece of paper to prevent the light from affecting their sight.
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People couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the footage.
One viewer said: "That's Incredibly dangerous! They need to call the cops and get those people arrested."
Another added: "To the people doing it they think they’re just playing around and trying to get attention, but in reality all those people could’ve died."
A third wrote: "I was actually on the flight it was horrible to see some random idiot shine a laser at an innocent plane. People really need to stop this because that plane could’ve crashed if he got blinded and that wouldn’t look good."
Authorities can send you away for a long time if they manage to convict you of shining a laser at a plane.
While it might seem innocent, it has huge implications and could go horribly wrong if timed right.
In the US, there have been thousands of reports of lasers being shone at pilots and data shows it's increasing in intensity.
According to the FBI, there were a little less than 1,500 incidents that were reported in 2009.
However, the US Federal Aviation Administration says there were close to 9,500 incidents in 2022.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer Doug Reinholz told a press conference: "Imagine you were in critical condition and a medical helicopter was responding to the call. But your pilot had to divert after being temporarily blinded by a laser.
"That’s a problem when you have a medical emergency and seconds and minutes count.
“If you point a laser and interfere with the operation of an aircraft, that’s a felony.
"The crime carries a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and a quarter of a million dollars fine.
"In addition, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $11,000 for each violation.”
Just don't do it, it's not fun or funny and could land you in serious trouble.