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 U.S. aircraft are significantly increasing, with 7,186 incidents reported by mid-October 2021, already surpassing the total for all of 2020 and marking the highest number since 2016.
- These laser strikes pose a critical safety risk by temporarily blinding pilots, endangering both crew and passengers, and have resulted in at least 198 reported injuries over the last decade.
- The rise in incidents is linked to factors such as the widespread availability of inexpensive and more powerful lasers, especially green ones, coupled with increased pilot reporting.
- Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime, carrying penalties up to $11,000 per violation, with the FAA having collected $600,000 in fines since 2016.
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