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posted by janrinok on Friday May 04 2018, @04:38PM   Printer-friendly
from the keeping-an-eye-on-things dept.

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


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 04 2018, @08:07PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 04 2018, @08:07PM (#675831)

    Then that can result in everyone onboard dying and the loss of all cargo, an expensive aircraft, and whatever it hits on the ground.

    It also *could* result in the spontaneous materialization of pink unicorns. Admittedly, the odds of unicorns appearing are very, very, very low. About the same odds as an accident occurring, which so far is none. No unicorns and no accidents.

  • (Score: 2) by requerdanos on Friday May 04 2018, @10:47PM (1 child)

    by requerdanos (5997) Subscriber Badge on Friday May 04 2018, @10:47PM (#675895) Journal

    No unicorns and no accidents.

    If you believe that there are no air accidents in history resulting from a disoriented or distracted pilot, then your universe--apparently it also features unicorns--probably isn't as similar to the one in which these events take place as you had first assumed.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @02:16AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @02:16AM (#675945)

      If you believe that there have been air accidents in history resulting from a disoriented or distracted pilot caused by laser pointers then it is your view of the universe that has deviated from reality.