Laser Events Affecting Pilots Are Becoming Surprisingly Common

Both innocent and malicious pranksters have caused real issues for aviators and air traffic controllers alike.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 09:10 AM ET

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You’re most likely to be affected by laser strikes at low altitudes, in critical phases of flight, and at night. [File Photo Courtesy: NBAA]

Key Takeaways:

Laser strikes on aircraft are a serious and growing safety hazard, risking pilot incapacitation and potential loss of control.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) follows a detailed checklist upon receiving a laser strike report, which includes logging the incident, notifying law enforcement and aviation safety networks, and broadcasting warnings to other aircraft.
Intentionally shining a laser at an aircraft is a federal felony, punishable by significant fines and imprisonment, with authorities actively working to apprehend offenders.
Pilots are urged to report all laser incidents immediately to ATC, providing crucial details to aid investigation and ensure the safety of other flights.

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Many of us have played with lasers at some point. We should know that even the small ones can damage our eyes. While smaller lasers are generally safe for short periods, the bigger ones are potentially harmful, even from miles away.

What pilots do and how they are trained are one story, but we’ll stick mainly to what air traffic control (ATC) does whenever it hears “laser” or “my eye!” We’ll also discuss some aftermaths of such events.