Laser vandal targets aircraft
Thursday 22nd October 2009, 3:00PM BST.
A Flybe flight landing at JerseyAirport this week. Picture: Tony Pike
A LASER with the power to blind was deliberately shone into the cockpit of a passenger jet seconds before it landed at Jersey Airport, it has emerged.
The Flybe plane with up to 76 passengers on board was on its final approach when the green laser beam was fired at the aircraft from the Red Houses area of St Brelade. The beam, which can cause temporary blindness and permanent damage to eyesight, narrowly missed the two pilots.
Sandy Sawyer, airport operations director, said: ‘Unfortunately, these sorts of incidents are on the increase in the UK, and although we have only had one case here, it is something that everyone is very concerned about. This is a totally unacceptable practice as these lasers have the ability to distract the pilot in a critical stage of the flight.’
The airline immediately reported the incident to Jersey Airport and the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK. The States police, who were also notified, have confirmed that inquiries were made at the time, but it is understood that no arrests have been made.
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The problem should have been sorted out a few months ago when many people were reporting sightings of aliens floating around the sky. Aliens – I think not!
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Excuse my rhetorical question, but why the jumping josephat would you do that?
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What mindless idiot would do something like that.
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Well, now that this activity has been publicised we will no doubt have an epidemic.
With no press report they might not do it again.
Or, is the idea to egg them on so that they become easier to catch?
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I saw a private jet pull out of a landing at approx 3pm today. Makes me wonder if a laser was the reason.
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So a laser shone from Red House’s is going to hit a pilot in the eye for more than a nano-second (also most probaby 1000:1 shot). Just some kid messing around. If a pilot could be distracted by that he shouldn’t be up in the air!
News must be incredibly slow on the rock!!
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Ann-those were genuine aliens but that lazer beam was not.
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Dave (5)- That was the jet coming to spring Curtis Warren. He only learnt at the very last minute he wasn’t here any more!
Seriously though, what brainless, mindless idiot would attempt something that could endanger so many lives? Well someone with no brain or mind I guess.
It beggars belief.
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This mindless and idiotic pastime is not confined to Jersey alone.
A north London man was found guilty of negligently and recklessly endangering an aircraft. He has been sentenced to twelve months in prison for his stupidity.
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I can see Jersey spending loads of money trying to catch those youths who are shining the lasers so rather than kicking up a fuss pilot’s should just wear laser protective goggles. This way youths are having no effect nor getting the attention they’re after. Obviously one of them caught a glimpse of that TV program last week relating to this and thought ahh I’ll try that!
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Magnolia Man there was a program on TV about it happening in the UK last week so some kid has obviously just thought he’ll give it a shot! It’s very dangerous and could temporarily blind a pilot whilst coming into land, not a good idea! But everything I have read/seen on it only outlays the problem, no one has offered a positive solution to this matter. Surely someone has thought of laser protective goggles mandatory for pilots no?
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Why are these on sale in Jersey & Guernsey? The UK banned the import of these long ago.
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Laser goggles for pilots is approaching the problem from the wrong end, and gives quasi-legitimacy to the person wielding the laser.
Endangering the safety of an aircraft in flight is, possibly, one of the most serious criminal offences.
Blinding or dazzling a pilot is tantamount to placing the lives of hundreds of passengers in danger.
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The way to stop this highly dangerous and idiotic practice?
Publicly announce that anyone caught committing such an offence will get a mandatory 5 year prison sentence regardless of age, with no remission!
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Add to that of No.14
Also with name & shame and let the public have their say to the offender(s) face to face.
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Glenn 6
Re your comment: 1000 to 1 shot. Just some kid messing around…
Oh really! So in your opinion, endangering the safety of an aircraft and the lives of all those on board can be defined as “messing around”.
I don’t agree! I think I might even go as far in the “opposite direction” and define it as an act of “terrorism”.
Most countries define terrorism as a dangerous act which is intended to create fear among the target population, and which deliberately disregards the safety of non-combatants (in other words, all those on-board).
I think this reckless act fits the bill…so may the punishment fit the crime.
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A further solution: Anyone caught in possession of one of these apparently illegal lasers will get a 3 year mandatory prison sentence.
If that person is a minor then parents would be subject to that!
Then let’s see if there is such a “Gung Ho” attitude to little Jimmy buying one of these things on the internet with his sweet allowance!
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Magnolia Man 13
And in the meantime we can expect a few aircraft crashes because we cant keep our youth in check
?
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Born Warrior 16.
I like your plagiarism from the web but maybe you should have use the fuller quote:
“Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion. Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts which are intended to create fear (terror), are perpetrated for an ideological goal (as opposed to a lone attack)”
Did I miss the news that the radical St. Ouens sepratives had upped their operations in order to force independence from the States of Jersey?
Point being typical JEP sensationalist news more likely to encourage this stupid behavior , if someone let off a banger in the Royal Square the JEP would try to link it to an al-qaeda attack.
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Glenn 19
Maybe you misread, I said:
“I think I might even go as far in the “opposite direction” and define it as an act of “terrorism”.
Which roughly translated means you “Grossly Underestimated” this dangerous act and I “Grossly Exaggerated” it.
As for your “unabridged web-version” of the definition of terrorism…well, all attacks start with a “lone attack” usually with the ideological goal of disrupting operational security and normal activities…still fits the bill!
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Please let us not jump on the ‘lets blame teenagers for everything bad in Jersey’ band wagon. The perpetrator has not been caught yet so we cannot with certainty blame one particular generation in society. I know plenty of adults who would do this for a laugh, possibly even some States members.
I think the solution is threefold:-
1) tough sentencing on anyone caught doing this;
2) Special glasses which the pilots can wear when landing, possibly a modification of the existing aviators all pilots are required to wear, by law, when flying;
3) Possibly a reflector transgenital beam probe detector which can reflect the beam back on the perpetrator hopefully making them blind and paralysing them briefly whilst the police locate them.
Alternatively, we could build a giant screen around the airport to protect to the pilots although this is probably too expensive.
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