Laser strikes can blind pilots during critical flight stages, risking lives
Pointing a laser at an aircraft can temporarily impair a pilot’s vision during take-off or landing, putting passengers and crew at risk. The danger is heightened at night, when pilots’ pupils are dilated, and helicopters flying low over neighbourhoods are also vulnerable.
The US Federal Aviation Administration recorded nearly 11,000 laser strikes in 2025, down 14 per cent on the year before, and nearly 6,000 by the time the article was published in 2026. The offence has been a federal crime since 2012, carrying up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, with additional civil and state penalties possible. Recent convictions show that police and surveillance aircraft can trace beams to their source.
In short
- Lasers can cause flash blindness in pilots.
- Nearly 11,000 aircraft laser strikes were reported in 2025.
- US offenders face prison and substantial fines.
Explained simply
Aircraft pilots rely on clear vision to judge their position, speed and surroundings, especially during take-off and landing. A laser aimed at a cockpit can cause glare or temporarily affect sight; the risk is greater at night, and helicopters flying close to the ground may pass near people using lasers.
In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration records reports of lasers aimed at aircraft. Pointing a laser at an aircraft has been a federal crime since 2012, and penalties can include prison, fines and other legal consequences. Police and aviation authorities may use aircraft or surveillance equipment to investigate where a beam came from.
The issue matters because pilots need to see clearly to operate safely, and any disruption can affect passengers, crew and people on the ground. The reported number of strikes gives authorities a way to track the problem, though it does not by itself show how many incidents caused lasting harm.
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Originally published by Engadget as “Why you should never point a laser pointer at any aircraft”.