Pilot suffers burns to eyes after being hit by laser light during flight

Artistic depiction of a laser attack on an aircraft during an approach at night. Due to a potential blinding of pilots laser attacks pose a serious threat to aviation safety and pilot health.
By Travel Weekly


An investigation is underway into an incident involving a pilot whose eyes were injured during a flight in the US.

As reported by CTV News, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a WestJet aircraft was on route to Orlando from Newfoundland earlier this month when the pilot was hit in the eyes with a green laser light roughly 40 kilometres from the airport.

FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the pilot managed to land the plane safely and was placed on medical leave.

The US government agency is investigating the incident and pinpointed an address in Florida as possible source of the laser light.

However, CTV News reported that the local county sheriff’s office found no one at the possible location had any knowledge of the incident or owned a laser pointer.

A WestJet spokesperson said in a statement that laser incidents are a “serious concern” for the safety of its staff and aircraft operations.

“When any sort of light enters the flight deck, pilots are trained to look away and maintain focus, but they must also remain vigilant with respect to their surroundings and monitor the apron prior to landing,” the spokesperson told CTV News.

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