After a growing number of incidents involving laser pen type devices being shone at planes coming into land and taking off at airports across the UK, the government has introduced a law to make it a specific criminal offence. Under old law it had to be tried as endangering an aircrafts safety, but the new regulation will make it a criminal offence on its own.
Heathrow Airport reported 29 separate incidents last year involving laser devices that were shone at planes compared with just eight in 2008. Glasgow also reported a dramatic increase from six in 2008 to massive 42 last year. The UK has reported 737 attacks of this nature in the last two years against all types of aircraft from air ambulances to commercial airliners. This has prompted the swift action by the British Government to outlaw the pens.
Source: Carrentals.co.uk
By: cloud_9 - 23rd January 2010 at 11:21
About time too…maybe this will help deter the idiots from doing it.
By: cockerhoop - 21st January 2010 at 08:24
our BAE King air had the same done to it at Walney airfield, Barrow
the local paper interviewed the pilot Shaun Connor
By: EGTC - 21st January 2010 at 01:43
Wonder what the penalty will be? Suppose a quick telling off and then sent home to think about what they did.
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January 20, 2010 at 9:53 pm