From the BBC – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7568645.stm
The pilot of a passenger jet was blinded by a laser device as the aircraft came in to land at Durham Tees Valley Airport, police said.
The KLM jet, with 40 people onboard, landed safely after the co-pilot took the controls on Sunday night.
A Cleveland Police helicopter was also targeted as it searched an area around the airport near Darlington.
A police spokesman said a 19-year-old man had been arrested and charged with two counts of endangering an aircraft.
Ground search
A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “The incoming flight from Amsterdam was coming in to land at Durham Tees Valley Airport when a laser device was shone into the cockpit.
“The pilot was temporarily blinded and the co-pilot landed the plane.
“When the police helicopter was sent to investigate, it too was targeted by the laser device.
“Officers on the ground were able to arrest a 19-year-old man, who was outside the airport, and the device recovered.”
She said there were no reports of injuries. The man is due to appear at Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
I just don’t understand the mentality of some people… it’s on a level with throwing stones at cars and putting sleepers across railway lines 😡
At least they caught the little… person
Ian
By: Flying-A - 22nd August 2008 at 04:48
They should throw the book at the perp since this is far from “boys will be boys” kids stuff. Elsewhere there is a thread concerning the identification of remains from the 1948 gold plane crash in Alaska. Published reports state that the cause was never definitely established, but that one theory is that the pilots were blinded or distracted by an unusually bright aurora display the night of the crash.
By: cal900 - 19th August 2008 at 20:26
As simple as that 🙁
Only good laser is one in a club:cool:
By: cloud_9 - 19th August 2008 at 20:17
How do these losers get their hands on these lasers anyway?
You can easily buy them from most toy/gadget websites, as well as Amazon or even eBay! But knowing the youth of today, said person probably just nicked it from the classroom at school!
I personally think there should be strict rules put in place on the supply of these types of products, especially when you consider how damaging they can be, but also the additional consequences that can be caused when village idiots like the one in question considers it ‘fun/cool’ to shine it at aircraft!
By: Richard Taylor - 19th August 2008 at 19:48
How do these losers get their hands on these lasers anyway?
I agree with an earlier suggestion…tie him to a wall, tape his eyes open & shine the laser at a distance of, say 1ft away…half an hour should do the trick. Then let him wander away & blunder into the path of the nearest car…
By: cal900 - 19th August 2008 at 13:16
If anyone ever purposefully pointed one of those things in my eyes, assuming I could still see they wouldn’t be physically capable of ever doing it again. Very, very sad that people have to be so stupid. 😡
Paul
It’s alright, I know where they live;)
By: steve wilson - 19th August 2008 at 06:58
He will probably recieve yet another pinko punishment as nowadays it seems that anyone aged under 21 cannot be stigmatised as a criminal. Maybe growing some eco friendly garlic at multicultural peace and harmony commune for a weekend will rehabilitate him.
Send him to Kabul so that our snipers can hone their skills I say.
Steve
By: Arabella-Cox - 19th August 2008 at 00:30
Frankly, if I was a prosecutor, I’d charge him with attempted murder. It takes a deliberate act to shine a light into a cockpit like that, and you’d have to be really stupid to not know that it could have harmful effects. That action put possibly 45+ people in danger – maybe MANY more if the plane is near an airport and a populated area.
Ryan
By: Grey Area - 18th August 2008 at 23:15
Gruinard…..is that yet another way of spelling “Guardian” (Of newspaper bad spelling fame!!)
No. :diablo:
By: cloud_9 - 18th August 2008 at 21:50
I think this idiot should get a taste of his own medicine and be pinned against a wall and have the laser shone (sp?) in his eyes…see how he feels after!
Either that or get him doing community service…scrubbing public toilets with a toothbrush….or is that a bit too harsh?:D:diablo:
By: old shape - 18th August 2008 at 21:35
It’s about time crass, wilful, stupidity became a criminal offence in it’s own right.
Preferably punishable by marooning on Rockall or, better yet, Gruinard. 😡
Well, I agree. There would be a long line at the Courts if stupidity was the offence though!
As a nation that is infested with trash TV (All soaps, big brother etc.) the youth seem to be getting thicker and thicker. Their ability to remain pointlessly dim is enforced by equally uneducated and generally inept role models. And then, to enable a balance, the standards are widened/softened/ruined to allow underachievers to “Achieve”. Most of them have delusions of mediocrity.
It’s well into the 3rd generation of chav/pikey thicko’s now, too late to repair.
Gruinard…..is that yet another way of spelling “Guardian” (Of newspaper bad spelling fame!!)
By: PMN - 18th August 2008 at 21:09
I was attacked by one of thise when I was out running the other week
If anyone ever purposefully pointed one of those things in my eyes, assuming I could still see they wouldn’t be physically capable of ever doing it again. Very, very sad that people have to be so stupid. 😡
Paul
By: Grey Area - 18th August 2008 at 19:44
It’s about time crass, wilful, stupidity became a criminal offence in it’s own right.
Preferably punishable by marooning on Rockall or, better yet, Gruinard. 😡
By: cal900 - 18th August 2008 at 19:12
Should be chucked inside for this.
Did he want to plane to crash?:confused:
I was attacked by one of thise when I was out running the other week. You cannot take chances when it comes to your eyes:mad:
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August 18, 2008 at 6:28 pm