Counter Terror Gazette

Laser Attacks: carelessness, malice, crime or terrorism?

25 Oct 2010

Several countries around the globe have recently seen spikes in laser attacks to aircraft, with ever-more powerful lasers being used. Laser light is harmful to pilots’ eyes and vision, especially during critical phases of the flight, so concern is understandably growing given that the effects of illumination can range from minor distraction through to unconsciousness. Jo Schoenmaker considers the perpetrators, the concerns, the implications and the possible approaches to mitigating this problem? 

Since the beginning of the nineties, lasers and other bright lights have  been used by entertainment venues and for professional outdoor lightshows. With the world’s entertainment capital, Las Vegas, at the frontline in the development of the phenomenon, it is unsurprising that the first recorded laser incident in civil aviation was near McCarren International Airport where arrivals from and departures to the north fly more or less parallel to Las Vegas’ world-famous ‘Strip’. The Pilot Flying was blinded by the lighting and had to hand over control to the Pilot Not Flying and was treated for corneal irritation at his destination. 

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported: “On 30 October 1995, the first officer on Southwest Airlines flight 1367 sustained an eye injury and was incapacitated when he was irradiated by a laser beam during the airplane’s departure from the Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. Flight 1367 was climbing through 7,000 feet MSL on a standard instrument departure route when the incident occurred. The first officer, who was the flying pilot, said that a laser beam swept past the cockpit from left to right and he immediately experienced pain and was completely blinded in his right eye. The after-image effects he experienced also induced a blinding condition in his left eye. He stated that he was unable to see for about 30 seconds and that for an additional two minutes he could not focus on or interpret any instrument indications. In addition to his vision problems, the first officer said that for several minutes he was completely disoriented. Fortunately, the Captain was not irradiated by the beam and was able to assume control of the airplane, and he continued the climb. The first officer sustained no apparent permanent eye damage and has resumed flight duties.” MORE ONLINE.