The skies are becoming increasingly perilous as incidents of lasers being pointed at aircraft have soared to alarming new heights, particularly in Arizona. The state is on track to see an unprecedented doubling of such strikes this year, Arizona's Family reports.
Based on the Federal Aviation Administration's figures, there were a concerning 429 laser strikes over Arizona reported in 2023, and just within the first three months of fiscal year 2024, the FAA has logged an astounding 232 strikes. "Fortunately, we have not lost any airplanes. But I’m afraid it’s just a matter of time until that happens," FAA Safety Team lead representative Cary Grant, who is also a pilot, told Arizona's Family. This phenomenon is not limited to Arizona; it's a nationwide issue with the FAA reporting a 41% surge in laser strikes last year, reaching a new peak of 13,304 incidents as per FOX 10 Phoenix.
The culprits, often wielding small laser pointers purchased for uses as innocent as pet toys or business presentations, may have little awareness of the hazard they pose to aviation safety. The FAA stresses the gravity of the issue, emphasizing that targeting aircrafts is a serious threat to safety both in the sky and on the ground. Pilots suffer from "flash blindness" during these laser strikes, losing important visual references and control of their aircrafts during critical moments like landing approaches.
The danger is acute at Luke Air Force Base, where occurrences 'has happened' to pilots just about every week, explained Lt. Col. Tyler Smith, deputy commander of the 56th Operations Group. Smith cautioned how disorienting and potentially blinding these strikes are, especially for inexperienced pilots in advanced aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II, Arizona's Family Investigates reported. The FAA also reported 313 pilot injuries since 2010 due to these incidents, highlighting the human toll of this reckless behavior.
Law enforcement has been on the chase as well, with a recent example of William Hill, a 35-year-old man arrested in December, for allegedly aiming a laser at a Southwest Airlines jet and a police helicopter. Hill claimed it was to see how far the laser could go, according to Arizona's Family. Penalties for such offenses can be steep. The FAA can impose fines of $11,000 per violation and up to $30,800, while criminal charges can be pursued by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
This growing trend of laser strikes peaks during the first few hours after midnight, as per FAA data and only serves to call for increased vigilance and public awareness on the part of laser pointer owners. The FAA has issued bulletins urging caution and stressing that these seemingly innocuous pranks can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
