Laser pointer attacks on the rise in UK
The Association of Air Ambulances (AAA) has revealed that laser pointer attacks on UK HEMS aircraft have increased threefold.
The Association of Air Ambulances (AAA) has revealed that laser pointer attacks on UK HEMS aircraft have increased threefold. After an incident where a UK aircraft had a hand-held laser pointed into its cockpit, the AAA conducted research to find out how many similar incidents had occurred.
Only three offences of this kind were committed in 2015, but in 2016 there were 10 reported laser attack incidents. The AAA said the fact that attacks are on the rise, despite charities warning of the dangers of targeting helicopters with hand-held laser pointers, is ‘very serious’ and indicates a ‘growing problem’: “The risk to the loss of life from these acts of stupidity by unwitting people is not acceptable, not to mention against the law, and can result in prosecution. We encourage the general public to not point lasers at any aircraft under any circumstances, and if witnessing an individual pointing laser pens at any type of aircraft, they should notify the police immediately.”