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Laser strikes were at an all-time high in 2023 and the FAA warned of the dangers, urging the public to report laser strikes.
The FAA received 13,304 reports from pilots in 2023, showing a 41 percent increase over 2022 with 9,457 reported laser incidents. Shining a laser at an aircraft is a serious safety threat. High-powered lasers can incapacitate pilots, including those flying planes with hundreds of passengers. Since the FAA began recording data on laser strikes in 2010, 313 pilots have reported injuries.RELATED STORIES:FAA, DOT increase civil penalties for laser pointing, unruly passengers, other violationsSeries of laser strikes in Boston part of growing problem in national airspaceLaser strike risk remains high, FAA requests warning label with safety risks and federal laws
"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 the ground at risk," FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker said.
Pointing lasers at an aircraft is a serious offense and can cost you serious money. The FAA fines people up to $11,000 per violation and up to $30,800 for multiple violations. The violators may 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," Whitaker said. "We encourage you to report laser strikes to the FAA via our website or to your local law enforcement agency."
The FAA is encouraging the public to report laser strikes to the agency and local law enforcement agencies. The FAA's visualization tool compiled laser-strike data from the last decade and highlights trends by geographic area, per capita data, time of day and year. The tool is shared to draw attention to the dangerous increase over the years. Users can track data by state to learn more about laser strikes where they are flying.
The Department of Transportation and the FAA made annual adjustments to civil penalty amounts, resulting in a three percent increase for certain aviation regulation violations. This included a raised civil penalty for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft or the flight path of an aircraft to $31,819.
With laser strikes at a dangerous high, Whitaker wants the public to be aware of the dangers, and potential violators to be aware of the repercussions.
"Bottom line, lasers and aircraft don't mix," Whitaker said.