People are flocking to social media in concern after a plane passenger shared a video showing the moment a laser was 'pointed at' the aircraft.
Getting on an airplane can be a daunting enough experience already, let alone when you glance out of the window and see a laser beam dancing around your vision.
A traveller took to Reddit on Wednesday (6 September) to share a video while they were on a plane, capturing the moment a laser can be seen beaming towards it.
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You can catch the clip here:
The video - posted by user Zeokar - shows a green light being emitted from a source on the ground, the lazer is moving around erratically but directly lands on the plane at multiple points within the 28-second video.
The caption reads: "Someone pointing lazer at our plane
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"Was traveling back last night and noticed someone shooting lazer at our flight.
"Just wondering if this is illegal in Australia?"
Indeed, pointing a laser at a plane is illegal in Australia - which Victoria Police have confirmed - and the video is reported as having been shot while the aircraft was travelling over Melbourne, according to Yahoo News.
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The Australian Government's Civil Aviation Safety Authority's (CASA) document on laser emissions explains that lasers can produce 'a beam of light of such intensity that permanent damage to human tissue, in particular the retina of the eye, can be caused instantaneously, even at distances of over 10 km'.
"At lower intensities, laser beams can seriously affect visual performance without causing physical damage to the eyes," it adds.
One Reddit user commented: "Highly illegal oh thats awful."
"How much of a sad c**t do you have to be to do this," another added.
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And a third wrote: "WTF. People are so dumb."
And pointing a laser at a plane also comes with serious consequences.
The document continues: "In an attempt to reduce the incidents, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) amended the Civil Aviation Act to make it a specific offence to irresponsibly direct laser devices at aircraft, attracting penalties of two years imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $5,500 AUD ($3,500)."
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It notes the protection of pilots against accidental laser beam strikes has become 'a serious factor in aviation safety'.
It's also considered a serious crime elsewhere in the world, with the US' Federal Aviation Administration noting that laser strikes violate 'federal law'.
It states: "Intentionally aiming lasers at aircrafts poses a safety threat to pilots [...]. Many high-powered lasers can incapacitate pilots flying aircraft that may be carrying hundreds of passengers.
"The FAA works closely with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to pursue civil and criminal penalties against people who purposely aim a laser at an aircraft."
The offence carries a hefty fine in the US as well as Australia, with the FAA warning anyone 'who violates Federal Aviation Regulations by shining lasers at aircraft' can end up with 'civil penalties of up to $11,000 ($17,000 AUD) per violation'.
"The FAA has imposed civil penalties up to $30,800 ($48,000 AUD) against people for multiple laser incidents," it adds.
A spokesperson for Australia's Civil Aviation and Safety Authority (CASA) told Yahoo News: "Pointing a laser at an aircraft poses a serious threat that can incapacitate pilots, putting passengers at risk.
"Any passengers witnessing a laser should contact the cabin crew."
It's unclear whether the laser pointing at the aircraft in the Reddit video was purposeful or the result of an accident.
At the time of writing, there's been no update on who is responsible.
Topics: Travel, Reddit, Social Media, Crime, True crime
Poppy Bilderbeck