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: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday May 05 2018, @08:21AM
Ok, now if you're talking about take-off and landing, maybe..rest of the time? Altitude and Autopilot.
It's more a worry when they target light aircraft, especially those flight school Cessnas flown by inexperienced pilots at lower altitudes over residential areas (where there's a statistically greater chance of coming to the attentions of a nutter with a green laser pointer) there's more chance of a fatal loss of control happening there, still, AFAIK, this hasn't happened out there yet.
Mines is the right retina with scarring caused by walking into the beam of an IR laser diverted down an open lab sans any visible guide beam by a fucking idiot who I really must catch up with some day...in a dark alley...to thank properly..