U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said Wednesday that a series of laser beam incidents involving aircraft are the work of irresponsible individuals, not terrorists, dismissing any connection to organized threats.
Mineta announced that starting 19 January, pilots would be required to report all laser sightings immediately to air traffic controllers. The new Federal Aviation Administration rule is designed to help authorities pinpoint the origin of the beams and identify those responsible.
Officials expressed concern that lasers aimed at cockpits could temporarily blind or disorient pilots during critical phases of flight, particularly takeoffs and landings, endangering everyone aboard.
Among the incidents under review, FBI agents investigated a case from 27 December in which a green laser tracked a commercial jet on approach to Cleveland Hopkins Airport in Ohio. Investigators traced the beam to a nearby residential neighborhood. No injuries have been reported in connection with the six or more incidents currently under investigation.
Existing FAA regulations already govern entertainment laser displays at venues such as amusement parks, requiring registration and prohibiting beams aimed above 3,000 feet.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in January 2005, in its own words.