Air Travel Dangers: Laser Attacks on Pilots Continue to Put You Life at Risk on Commercial Airlines

A recent trend, which is continuing the rise, is the instances where airline pilots are reporting the individuals on the ground are shining hand held lasers into the cockpit while the aircraft are landing.

The lasers, which can temporarily blind a pilot and even cause permanent eye damage, are also a real danger to the passengers. According to pilots, the landing and take-off are the 2 most dangerous times during air travel. Incapacitating the pilot at such a critical time puts the lives of every passenger in jeopardy.

Despite hefty fines and prison sentences, the activity persists and is in fact growing in frequency. According to the FAA, last year there were 2836 reported incidences, and so far this year the number is 2733 and expected to break last years record before the end of the year. The numbers are way up from only about 300 reported in 2005.

As of June, the FAA has imposed an $11,000 fine for anyone caught interfering with a crew by shining a laser into the cockpit of an airplane. The fine was put in place partly because it is easier to enforce the fine than to convict someone for jail time.

Jail time, for those convicted, are up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. In 2009, a California man was sentenced to almost 3 years in prison for shining a laser into the cockpit of a United Airlines flight and an Alaska Airlines flight.