Several commercial flights have been reported to be targeted by green laser lights around Boston, prompting an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The incidents involve three major airlines—Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, and Delta Air Lines—who, in a short span of days, were each targeted by a green laser as reported by Boston 25 News.
Due to these reports, the potential hazards of laser light strikes on aircraft have been brought briefly back into focus as stated by The Boston Globe. Lasers are able to temporarily blind the pilots, which jeopardizes the safety of all on board. The FAA reported that since 2010, 278 pilots have reported injuries due to laser strikes, with 9,500 such incidents occurring in 2022 alone.
This isn't the first time laser light strikes have been a concern in the Boston area. Back in September, two JetBlue flights and a medical helicopter also reported similar incidents. Although no injuries were reported in those instances, the pattern is triggering worthy questions about air travel security and potential preventative measures according to the article in the Boston Globe.
Specifically dealing with addressing the issue, the FAA enforces penalties of up to $11,000 per incident and up to $30,800 for multiple violations as reported by NBC Boston. The FAA does not exercise leniency for accidental or intentional violations, opting instead to hand out moderately high civil penalties for the former and maximum penalties for the latter.
According to The Boston Globe, the increase in laser light incidents fits into a trend of growing numbers nationwide. The instances rose from 6,852 in 2020 to 9,723 in 2021. This situation has prompted active collaboration between the FAA and law enforcement agencies in an effort to protect pilots and ensure passenger safety during flights.
