Air Force Pilots Report Surge in Laser Strikes

The incidents involve shining beams from laser pointers, normally meant for presentations, into a cockpit.

“We refer to these as lazing incidents. It’s crucial for the public to understand that aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is not only dangerous but a felony,” an OSI official said in a statement Tuesday.

Penalties for "lazing" military aircraft include fines up to $250,000 and up to five years in prison, OSI said.  The FAA also has fines of up to $11,000 per violation and up to $30,800 for multiple laser incidents.

The incidents, which can potentially injure pilots, also pose a significant threat to Air Force aircraft, especially at night, according to service officials. When an incident occurs, pilots face the challenge of reporting it while specifying with a degree of certainty the geo-coordinate from where it originated. 

“These are not harmless pranks,” the OSI official said. “There’s a risk of causing permanent visual impairment. From the public’s standpoint, misusing lasers can severely impact a person’s ability to see and function,” 

Military pilots aren't the only aircraft operators reporting an uptick in laser strikes in the U.S. According to the FAA, reports increased 41 percent in 2021, compared to the previous year.

"Since 2010, a total of 244 injuries have been reported, underscoring the escalating and pervasive threat," OSI said. "The nearly 9,500 laser strikes reported to the FAA in 2022 highlight the severity of this growing concern."