Dangerous laser strikes reach record high in USA

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received 13,304 reports from pilots in 2023, marking a 41% increase over the previous year.

Many types of high-powered lasers can incapacitate pilots. Potential short-term effects of lasers on pilots include temporary flash blindness and potential distraction at a critical stage of flight, while long-term effects include permanent damage to the eye.

Pilots have reported 313 injuries since the FAA began recording data on laser strikes in 2010.

“The FAA is committed to maintaining the safest air transportation system in the world. Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a serious safety hazard that puts everyone on the plane and on the ground at risk,” said FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker.

In the USA, individuals who shine lasers at aircraft face FAA fines of up to US$11,000 per violation and up to $30,800 for multiple laser incidents. Violators can also face criminal penalties from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

“Like many crimes, there’s a need for education, outreach, and cooperation from the public to address this safety risk. We encourage you to report laser strikes to the FAA via our website or to your local law enforcement agency,” said Whitaker.

To identify laser-strike trends, the FAA’s visualization tool shows laser-strike data from 2010 to 2023 and highlights trends by geographic area, per capita data, time of day and year.