Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

SoylentNews is powered by your submissions, so send in your scoop. Only 10 submissions in the queue.
posted by Dopefish on Thursday March 13 2014, @09:50AM   Printer-friendly
from the lives-could-be-at-stake dept.

GungnirSniper writes "The US FBI has been working with the FAA and the Air Line Pilots Association to crack down on people pointing lasers at aircraft. "Reported incidents of laser attacks on aircraft in flight in the US have increased more than 1,000 percent since 2005, according to the FAA, from 283 up to 3,960 in 2013 an average of 11 incidents a day."

Per the Air Line Pilots Association, "reports of aircraft laser illuminations in the U.S. have increased sharply over the past few years-to 3,960 last year from 2,836 in 2010."

Sergio Patrick Rodriguez, 26, now has the dubious distinction of being sentenced to "14 years in federal prison, a term prosecutors believe to be among [California's] longest for such a crime." Rodriguez's gang membership and criminal record were likely factors in his sentence, as was using a laser that is called 13 times more powerful than most laser pointers.(Previous coverage of Rodriguez here.)"

Has anyone seen this happen or experienced it as a pilot or aircraft passenger?

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 5, Funny) by dublet on Thursday March 13 2014, @01:01PM

    by dublet (2994) on Thursday March 13 2014, @01:01PM (#15835)

    .. or experienced it as a pilot or aircraft passenger?

    Not with my remaining eye, no..

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +4  
       Funny=5, Overrated=1, Total=6
    Extra 'Funny' Modifier   0  

    Total Score:   5