Lasers at LaGuardia hit six planes
November 9, 2011, 06:16 pm
According to The Associated Press, six airplanes landing at LaGuardia airport this weekend were hit with a laser pointer, the most recent incident in what is becoming an increasing problem for the Federal Aviation Administration.
The laser strikes were reported between 6:00 and 8:00 pm on both Friday and Saturday nights on six planes at altitudes between 1,600 and 2,500 feet, according to the source. All flights landed without incident, but the FAA notes that laser pointers pose a significant threat to airline safety, as they can temporarily blind pilots during landing procedures, which require careful concentration.
According to the source, advances in inexpensive laser technology have made the issue a major problem. There were 283 reported laser airplane strikes in 2005 and 2,836 in 2010. The FAA is pushing congress to pass laws that will make shining a laser at an airplane specifically illegal.
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