INDIANA- Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a serious safety hazard that puts everyone on the plane and the ground below at risk. It is also a violation of federal law.
The FAA conducts outreach to educate the public about the hazards of lasers aimed at aircraft. They also work closely with other federal agencies and state and local governments to report and investigate incidents, help apprehend suspects, and advocate for the prosecution of offenders.
Pilots reported 13,304 laser strikes to the FAA in 2023. Laser attacks in the state of Indiana continue to be consistently high.
“The FAA is committed to maintaining the safest air transportation system in the world. Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a serious safety hazard that puts everyone on the plane and on the ground at risk,” said FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker.
People who shine lasers at aircraft face FAA fines of up to $11,000 per violation and up to $30,800 for multiple laser incidents. Violators can also face criminal penalties from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
“Like many crimes, there’s a need for education, outreach, and cooperation from the public to address this safety risk. We encourage you to report laser strikes to the FAA via our website or to your local law enforcement agency,” said Whitaker.
To identify laser-strike trends, the FAA’s visualization tool shows laser-strike data from 2010 to 2023 and highlights trends by geographic area, per capita data, time of day and year. The FAA shares the information to draw attention to the dangerously high rate.
Laser report data by year can also be downloaded on the FAA’s website.
The FAA strongly encourages the public to report laser strikes to the FAA and local law enforcement agencies.
Please watch this video about the dangers of lasers.
