Call to jail laster thugs targeting North aircraft

Criminals who are using a laser light to dazzle pilots attempting to land at an airport must be jailed, the North's aviation watchdog demanded today.

The Civil Aviation Authority has called for action after a series of potentially dangerous incidents at George Best Belfast City Airport in the last six months.

Since July a number of passenger jets have been targeted on their final approach into the airport.

On Halloween night a laser was shone at incoming planes for a full hour, while individual jets have reported incidents on four other occasions, the most recent involving a B737 at 4,700 feet 10 days ago.

A CAA spokesman said it took the threat to aviation safety extremely seriously.

“Any member of the public shining a light at an aircraft or helicopter could endanger the safety of the flight and any person found guilty of such an offence could face a custodial sentence,” he said.

A spokeswoman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland said they were looking for witnesses.

She said: “We are aware of a number of reports of laser lights being shone at aircraft.”

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