SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
US warns China after lasers injure American pilots in Africa
The United States has issued a formal warning to China after personnel at the Asian country's military base in Djibouti used lasers to interfere with U.S. military aircraft, minorly injuring two pilots, according to the Pentagon.
Top Defense Department spokeswoman Dana White told reporters Thursday that the U.S. is confident the Chinese are behind the "very serious incidents," which have increased in the past few weeks.
"There have been two minor injuries. This activity poses a true threat to our airmen. We have formally demarched the Chinese government. And we've requested that that Chinese investigate these incidents," White said during a Pentagon briefing.
The U.S. government, meanwhile, has warned airmen to be cautious when flying in certain areas in Djibouti, in Africa, due to the recent incidents.
Also at CNN.
Related: A Small Secret Airstrip in Africa is the Future of America's Way of War
China Sends Troops to Djibouti Ahead of Establishment of its First Overseas Military Base
(Score: 2) by requerdanos on Friday May 04 2018, @06:29PM (3 children)
Only when the laser flash comes at an unexpected moment would a pilot be surprised.
Unfortunately, that pretty much is the only moment in which the event tends to happen.
Leaving the pilots as likely to be surprised as not. Right?
(Score: 3, Interesting) by bob_super on Friday May 04 2018, @06:47PM (2 children)
True.
On the other hand the FAA has 28000 laser incident reports from 2011 to 2015 [arstechnica.com], and zero crashes.
It's something bad which needs to be addressed, but it's not exactly the worst criminals-who-deserve-decades-in-jail problem we have...
(Score: 5, Funny) by Immerman on Friday May 04 2018, @06:59PM
True, but nobody's throwing politicians in jail, so we have to come up with some way to meet the quotas...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @06:24AM
28000?!?
What about a defend against this kind of attack?