Eleven Evansville planes hit with laser pointers; Federal officials share consequences
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — The Federal Aviation Administration is sounding the alarm about lasers after getting reports of several pilots in Evansville being distracted by them. Authorities say it’s a prank that could have extreme consequences.
Officials say 11 aircraft in Evansville have been hit by laser pointers and around 2,000 people’s lives have been put at risk, by what the FAA says could be avoided by spreading awareness.
Statistics show 317 other incidents have been reported across Indiana this year. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker says last year’s occurrences were the highest they have ever seen with over 13,000 reports nationwide.
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Officials say shining the devices onto planes can distract, temporarily blind and cause severe eye injuries for pilots.
The administration says it’s a federal crime that can earn fines between $11,000 and $30,000 per violation, depending on whether you’re a repeat offender. Officials say fines can extend up to $250,000 and violators could face 5 years behind bars.
Experts say the majority of violations in Indiana have taken place over Indianapolis.
Fort Wayne, South Bend and Terre Haute have also reached the double digits for incidents this year.
Any pilot or crew member can make future reports via a form on the government administration’s official website. It asks several questions like seating location, how bright the laser shined into the cockpit and the color of the laser.
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