Laser strike incidents at Sea-Tac Airport catches attention of FAA
Nov 22, 2022, 2:36 PM
The FBI is working to stop a surge of laser-pointing incidents involving airplanes in the Seattle and Spokane areas. (Photo by Anda Chu/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images)
(Photo by Anda Chu/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images)
The Federal Aviation Administration announced they would be investigating reports from flight crews targeted by lasers going in and out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The FAA has confirmed that there have been at least three separate incidents of people pointing lasers in the past week.
FBI offers reward after 100 incidents near Sea-Tac where lasers have been pointed at planes
The FAA released the following statement.
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 below at risk. It is also a violation of federal law. To reduce laser attacks, the agency conducts outreach to educate the public about the hazards of lasers aimed at aircraft. The agency also works 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.
Two reports of lasers happened Friday, Nov. 18 when pilots from Alaska and Delta airlines said they were hit by green lasers as they approached the airport.
A third incident happened on Saturday, Nov. 19 when an Alaska Airlines crew said they were targeted with a laser southeast of Sea-Tac at an altitude of 4,800 feet.
Pointing a laser at an airplane is a huge safety concern, the FAA highlights. With some “high-powered lasers” capable of incapacitating pilots flying their aircrafts.
The penalty if caught pointing a laser at a plane could be as high as $11,000 per violation.
According to data released by the FAA, 9,723 incidents of aviation laser strikes were reported in 2021. With data from this year, there have been 253 reported laser strikes in the Seattle area as of October 2022.
Members of the public who have witnessed an individual shining a laser at aircraft can report the incident to the FBI, FAA, or local law enforcement. Tip lines include 206-622-0460 (FBI’s Seattle Field Office), 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324), or tips.fbi.gov. The public may also e-mail the FAA at laserreports@faa.gov.
