Someone in the Yakima area has been treating incoming planes like a light show, and federal agents are not amused. FBI Seattle is asking for the public’s help after multiple lasers were aimed at arriving aircraft at Yakima Air Terminal, also known as McAllister Field, starting in early 2026. Pilots reported beams striking their aircraft on approach, creating what investigators describe as a serious safety risk for flights into the Yakima Valley.
According to FBI Seattle, the incidents have been happening "since the beginning of 2026," and agents want to hear from anyone who might know who is behind the beams. People who were struck or who saw someone aiming a laser are asked to call the Yakima Police Department non-emergency line at (509) 575-6200, the FBI toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or to submit a report through tips.fbi.gov. The FBI post specifically mentions Yakima Air Terminal but does not provide any suspect description.
The Federal Aviation Administration warns that shining a laser at an aircraft is not a harmless prank. A strike can temporarily or even permanently affect a pilot’s vision and put passengers and people on the ground at risk. FAA laser-safety guidance urges pilots to report any strike immediately to air traffic control and the FAA so investigators can document what happened and preserve any available evidence. Federal agencies have been ramping up outreach and enforcement around laser incidents in recent months in an effort to slow similar cases across the country.
Yakima Air Terminal, commonly called McAllister Field, serves the Yakima Valley and operates a contract air-traffic control tower that handles tens of thousands of operations each year, according to the airport’s website. The site notes that the tower manages daytime tower hours, coordinates approaches for commercial and general aviation flights, and keeps traffic flowing around the field. Local officials have not released any additional information about where they think the laser beams are coming from.
Pilots who experience a laser strike are urged to report it immediately to air traffic control. Witnesses on the ground are asked to note the time, location, and any identifying details about the person using the laser, and to hang on to any photos or video they might have captured. Even a short or partially obscured recording can help investigators work backward and pinpoint where a beam originated, so people with footage are encouraged to preserve it and share it with authorities. The FBI and local police say they will review tips and any submitted media as part of the ongoing investigation.
Legal consequences
Federal law treats laser strikes on aircraft as a serious crime that can result in prison time and hefty fines, and prosecutors have not been shy about bringing charges. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Hawaii recently highlighted penalties of up to five years in prison in a public announcement and cited a prosecution this spring as an example of how these cases can play out. "Aiming a laser at an aircraft is not a prank; it is a direct assault on the safety of the pilot," officials said in that statement.
Investigators in Washington are echoing that warning as they work to track down whoever is targeting planes near Yakima. Anyone who may have been struck by a beam or who witnessed a laser in the area is asked to save any recordings, note times and locations, and contact Yakima police or the FBI’s tip line so agents can follow up. Small details, from a brief time stamp to a shaky video clip, could be the key to identifying whoever is behind the Yakima laser incidents.
