Flight bound for Shannon Airport hit by laser light

Gardaí are investigating an incident where a Shannon- bound cargo flight was targeted by a laser.

The incident was reported to authorities by air traffic controllers following a complaint from the crew of a flight on approach to Shannon on Thursday.

The TNT Airways flight TAY-1461 from Amsterdam was descending from 4,250m over Co Wexford when the crew reported a green laser had been pointed at their jet.

The incident happened at about 10.15pm as the British Aerospace 146 jet was south of Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, from where the laser is believed to have originated.

The crew of flight 1461 had been in contact with air traffic controllers in Shannon at the time and reported the incident to them.

The pilot said the beam appeared to have come from a built-up area in the vicinity of Enniscorthy. Controllers contacted gardaí in Wexford and made a report to them.

The crew continued to Shannon for a safe landing and did not report being injured or adversely affected by the laser. The Irish Aviation Authority takes such incidents very seriously and reports dozens of incidents to the gardaí every year,” the authority said.

“Shining a laser at an aircraft can affect the safety of an aircraft, especially if the aircraft is at a critical phase, such as landing.

“While the majority of reported incidents have been found to have a low-safety impact, pilots have reported flash blindness, glare and being distracted from lasers.”

Last Sunday, a transatlantic flight turned around north of Donegal and returned to London Heathrow after one of the pilots was affected by a laser.