A man who used a laser to attack an aircraft and a helicopter was sentenced to four months in prison

Last week, an Englishman was placed under arrest when it was determined that he had directed laser beams towards two distinct planes. The crimes, which happened about two years ago, included an Airbus A320 and a helicopter and happened roughly a week apart.

It has been stated that both planes were targeted while passing over Somerset County and Yeovil. The A320 was thought to have been transporting "hundreds of innocent people," despite the fact that the smaller chopper only had a modest number of passengers.

Avon and Somerset Police report that on April 11th, Andrew Wilson, 53, of Martock, Somerset, was given a four-month jail sentence at Taunton Crown Court. Wilson acknowledged two charges of aiming laser beams at airplanes while they were in flight during a previous hearing. This was against the Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Act, which the UK government passed in 2018.

Around 23:20 on August 3, 2022, the first crime took place. Video from the police department seems to show Wilson shooting a bright green laser at a chopper that is circling overhead.

A second incident happened on August 14, 11 days later, when an A320 flying above Yeovil was targeted as it descended into Bristol Airport (BRS). The airplane carried "almost two hundred people on board," according to the authorities.

Both aircraft were able to land safely in spite of the infractions, although one of the A320's pilots gave a statement in court explaining that the laser strike happened at a "critical stage" of the flight.

“You can see how distractions and disturbances from laser attacks are dangerous whilst the pilots are required to be totally focused … Laser attacks on aircraft also have the ability to temporarily ‘flash blind’ … Rendering one or both pilots blind whilst they are flying is obviously extremely dangerous.”

According to the investigating officer, PC Jason Marshalsea, lasers may be lethal.

“Shining a laser beam at an aircraft is dangerous and irresponsible and could result in catastrophic consequences. Wilson not only jeopardised the eyesight of several pilots, but he also unnecessarily and recklessly endangered the lives of hundreds of innocent people on those aircraft.”

The pilot further emphasized that these laser strikes had the potential to permanently destroy retinas and impair vision, which might lead to a pilot's career ending. A pilot license requires a number of credentials, including stringent medical standards.

Wilson may spend four months in prison. According to the Laser Misuse Act, anybody found guilty of a crime in England and Wales on a summary conviction faces up to a year in jail, a fine, or both.

The last eight years have seen an increase in laser strikes in the US. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received reports of around 7,400 infractions in 2016. Every year between 2017 and 2020, around 6,000 instances were reported. Before an alarming 13,304 instances occurred last year, there were over 9,000 infractions annually in 2021 and 2022. Thus far this year, almost 3,400 laser-related violations have been reported.

According to the FAA, “Many high-powered lasers can incapacitate pilots flying aircraft that may be carrying hundreds of passengers.”