NewsMine — deceptions — planes — Viewing Item

Laser beams aimed into cockpits 6 times recently { December 30 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.local6.com/news/4035217/detail.html http://www.local6.com/news/4035217/detail.html FBI: Laser Beams Aimed Into Cockpits 6 Times Recently Laser Beams Could Temporarily Blind Pilots UPDATED: 2:51 PM EST December 30, 2004 WASHINGTON -- An FBI official said there have been six recent incidents involving laser beams being aimed into cockpits of commercial airliners. A federal law enforcement official said the bureau is investigating one such report in Cleveland and two in Colorado Springs, Colo., as well as three others. The first three took place on Monday, and all planes involved landed safely. There's no word on when or where the other three incidents occurred, although the official indicated they all happened over the last four days. In the Cleveland incident, authorities say a laser beam was directed into the cockpit of a commercial jet traveling 300 mph at more than 8,500 feet. The plane arriving from Washington, D.C., was about 15 miles from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport when the beam appeared. An FBI agent said it remained for several seconds, like the plane was being tracked. The FBI is investigating whether it was a prank or whether there was another motive. Authorities said the laser had to have been fairly sophisticated to track a plane traveling at that altitude. The FBI believes the laser beam prankster used a laser beam that is common to the construction industry, according to Cleveland TV station WEWS. It is relatively powerful, and is generally used to mark or level job sites before construction begins. A recent memo sent to law enforcement agencies said there's evidence that terrorists have explored using lasers as weapons. But authorities said there is no specific intelligence showing al-Qaida or other groups might use such weapons in the United States. Interfering with flight crews is a federal felony. Laser beams can distract or temporarily blind a pilot. A person who is convicted of the crime could face up to 20 years in federal prison. Federal Aviation Administration regulations mandate that laser light shows must register their locations and the lights cannot be directed above 3,000 feet. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved.

flight990 panam103 twa800 Cuba plane bomber was a CIA agent { May 11 2005 } Fbi questioning people about laser beam in cockpits { January 1 2005 } Honduras crash { December 12 2002 } Laser beams aimed into cockpits 6 times recently { December 30 2004 } Macedonia leader killed in plane crash Files Listed: 5

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.