Pilots Report Numerous Laser Strikes In Boston

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Boston-area officials are investigating three recent incidents where green lasers targeted aircraft, including two JetBlue flights and a Coast Guard helicopter, last week.
  • The laser strikes occurred while aircraft were on approach to Logan International Airport or landing at a local hospital, with no injuries reported in any of the incidents.
  • These local events are part of a broader national trend, with the FAA reporting over 7,400 laser hazard incidents to pilots so far this year.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Law enforcement and aviation officials in the Boston area are trying to figure out who is using lasers to target aircraft. Last week there were three incidents of laser strikes from the ground. The first two occurred in the predawn hours Thursday and involved two JetBlue aircraft. Both were reportedly struck by green lasers while on approach to land at Logan International Airport (KBOS).

According to the FAA, the first incident was reported by the crew of JetBlue Flight 494 from Denver. The second was Flight 972 from San Jose, California. The flights landed at KBOS at 5:50 a.m. EDT and 5:54 a.m., respectively. There were no reports of injuries.

The third incident occurred around 8 p.m. when a Coast Guard helicopter conducting a training flight was struck by a green laser while landing at a Boston-area hospital. Again there were no injuries reported from the event.

According to the FAA, pilots have reported more than 7,400 laser hazard incidents so far this year. Last year, pilots reported nearly 9,500 to the agency.


This article originally appeared on FLYING.com. For more great content like this, check out FLYING!

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 25 years and a CFI for more than 21 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on X (formerly Twitter). @2Lewski.
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox

SUBSCRIBE

Please support AVweb.

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker. Ads keep AVweb free and fund our reporting.
Please whitelist AVweb or continue with ads enabled.