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:
- Reports of dangerous laser strikes on aircraft have dramatically increased in the U.S., with 7,186 incidents reported by October 14, 2021, already surpassing all of 2020 and marking the highest since 2016.
- These laser strikes are a serious safety hazard, as they can temporarily blind pilots, endangering both crew and passengers, and have resulted in at least 198 reported injuries over the last decade.
- The rise in incidents is attributed to factors like the widespread availability of inexpensive, more powerful, and visible green laser devices, alongside increased pilot awareness and reporting.
- Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime under the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, carrying significant penalties, with the FAA having collected $600,000 in fines since 2016.
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