A 45-year-old Brazilian national, Francisco Teixeira, was arrested on Christmas Day for allegedly projecting a green laser at aircraft near Miami International Airport. The laser was aimed at two airplanes flying near the airport.
As reported by NBC Miami, the pilot of an American Airlines flight noticed the laser and alerted police, who traced it to a room at the La Quinta Hotel. Teixeira was arrested there.
According to the WSVN, Teixeira, who does not speak English, was read his rights in Portuguese before being taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center. During his court appearance, Judge Gisela Cardonne Ely stressed the seriousness of his actions, saying, "You're charged with misuse of a laser device."
Judge Cardonne Ely set Teixeira's bond at $1,500. Teixeira confirmed he has a local friend but no family in the city.
Teixeira posted a bond, but there was no immediate indication of his release. Police and aviation authorities continue to take laser incidents aimed at aircraft seriously, following concerns raised by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2021 about the increase in such incidents.
