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Well it finally happened to me the other day after only reading about it in quarterly bulletins and newspapers.

Someone pointed a laser at my airplane while I was flying which is both hazardous and reckless.

We were heading into Salt Lake City (KSLC), we were on the downwind for runway 34L about five to 10 miles north of the airport at 11,000 feet, when a very bright light caught my attention at my 9 o’clock position.

At first I was thinking, “What the hell is that?“

It had to be the brightest, green, somewhat scattered light I’d ever seen at night. It wasn’t a fine line, but more like the center of the picture to the right. I asked my first officer if he saw it too and he commented on how bright it was as well.

At this point, a lot went through my mind:

- Is it really a laser being pointed at MY airplane?

- What color are lasers?

- Is there a show going on over there?

- Was this a planned laser event?

- Do I need to report this?

So I watched (not looking directly at it) the point that the beam was coming from for a bit longer trying to determine if there was some other reason for the light.

Obviously, we continued the approach, landed, and taxied to the gate without any further incidents. After the passengers had deplaned. I called the Salt Lake City ATC supervisor to tell him what I had seen.

We went through everything that I’ve told you already but some interesting points were brought up.

1. I should have reported it immediately! — It turns out that ATC wants to know when these things happen, even if you only suspect that it is a laser. They take these events very seriously.
2. ATC immediately issues a warning to other pilots in the area.
3. ATC then contacts local law enforcement and someone is dispatched to the area.
4. ATC then files a report which I believe is picked up by the FBI for further investigation.
5. Don’t forget to file a report with your company.

Here are a few FBI reports of lasering:

• Medford Man Convicted of Lasering LNG Tanker Helicopter Escort and Making False Statements
• Bakersfield Laser Tagger Sentenced to Two Years
• Orange County Man Convicted on Federal Charges for Shooting Laser at Commercial Aircraft

Another thing that I learned, is that you need to provide as much information about the event as possible when you contact either ATC or the FBI. They need to pinpoint the location of the laser illumination as best they can in order to direct law enforcement or to be ready if a laser “attack” happens again.

Finally, when I had some time, I filed a report with my company. They informed me that I am encouraged to call the FBI as well, if something like this happens.

For a couple hours afterwards, I thought about what I should have done. Personally, I hadn’t EVER thought about what I would say to air traffic control (ATC) if I had a laser pointed at me — if indeed this was a laser. And see, that was part of the problem. One, I REALLY couldn’t believe that a laser was being pointed at me and two, I didn’t want to “cry wolf” if it really wasn’t a laser.

At this point you might be wondering (or not), if I was fine? Thanks for asking! Well, I have to be honest, for the next day or so one of my eyes wasn’t quite right. It is hard to explain. It didn’t hurt but then it didn’t not hurt either. There was something wrong with it but it wasn’t debilitating by any means. After two days though, the eye felt completely normal. Afterwards though, you can’t help thinking, this unknown person(s), who aimed a laser at my airplane, could have ended my flying career in a matter of seconds! Worst case scenario is that something happened to the airplane and my passengers.

The whole incident is criminal really and this is why law enforcement is very serious about such events.

Check out this news report about a guy that got caught and will now have to face a judge: Accused Laser Pointer Will Face Judge

As always, your comments are appreciated.

To your flying success…and safety,

Jeffrey

P.S. Remember, tell ATC immediately if you think that you might have a laser pointed at you while you are flying so they can catch these folks if they are. Fly safe!

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