Reports of dangerous laser strikes continue to increase around the U.S., with the number of reports made so far this year already surpassing those reported for all of 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said Monday.
FAA Says Laser Strikes Continue To Rise
The administration reports that more incidents have been reported already in 2021 than in all of 2020, most since 2016.
Key Takeaways:
- Laser strikes on U.S. aircraft have significantly increased, with 7,186 reports by October 14, 2021, already exceeding the total for 2020 and marking the highest number since 2016.
- These dangerous incidents can temporarily blind pilots, jeopardizing crew and passenger safety, and have resulted in at least 198 reported injuries over the past decade.
- The surge is attributed to the easy availability of inexpensive, more powerful, and highly visible green lasers, alongside increased awareness and reporting by pilots.
- Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime punishable by substantial fines, with the FAA collecting over $600,000 in penalties since 2016.
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