Rise in number of laser pens shone at aircraft

YOBS armed with laser pens are dazzling pilots as planes come into land.

Nationally there has been a big rise in the number of laser pen attacks on aircraft in the last three years.

In April this year at Southend Airport the first easyJet airline was targeted as it came into land and on the same evening an Aer Lingus flight from Waterford, Ireland was also targeted.

No more incidents have been reported by the airport since.

However in 2011 police launched an operation to tackle the problem of people in high-rise flats and hanging around in nearby Eastwood Park shining the pens on the flightpath to Southend Airport.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says the high intensity light can dazzle pilots during take-off and landing. In the last three years there have been more than 4,500 reports of pilots being targeted by lasers.

Comments(15)

Olivia2847 says...
9:45am Thu 18 Oct 12

If you are convinced they are YOBS someone must know somefink? Ban sales of laser pens to under 60's ;-)

APR says...
9:49am Thu 18 Oct 12

So there has been a rise in cases nationally, but not locally ?

r6keith says...
10:40am Thu 18 Oct 12

As most of the modern passenger planes taking of from SEN virtually do it them selves, may I suggest that on the odd occasion someone actually manages to shine one of these lasers through the cabin window , Look the other way !

Eric Whim says...
12:54pm Thu 18 Oct 12

turn it into an RAF fighter base and when the little scrotes do it again send a few rounds of AP down the beam into them

Nebs says...
2:25pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Attach a small mirror to the outside of the planes and they will get a taste of their own medicine.

Rochford Rob says...
3:19pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Heaven forbid they ever brought a plane down, but if they did, it would be so sweet if it landed on one of these f**kwits.

Joe Wildman says...
4:19pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Anyone convicted of such a crime should be given a choice.

A. Blinded

B. Hand chopped off

The theory behind the punishment they will only do it once of they choose A and a maximum of twice if they choose B.

However there could be a option C. Stocks in the High Street, where people passing can buy rotten food to lob at them, they stay in the stocks fpr one week per person on board the aircraft.

Carlsberg don't set the laws but if they did...

jolllyboy says...
4:58pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Like it Nebs.

Rollocks says...
6:20pm Thu 18 Oct 12

So one laser pen can blind two pilots
How on earth is that possible
How many planes have crashed because of this It's not yobs its boys being boys

Rollocks says...
6:25pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Joe Wildman wrote:
Anyone convicted of such a crime should be given a choice.

A. Blinded

B. Hand chopped off

The theory behind the punishment they will only do it once of they choose A and a maximum of twice if they choose B.

However there could be a option C. Stocks in the High Street, where people passing can buy rotten food to lob at them, they stay in the stocks fpr one week per person on board the aircraft.

Carlsberg don't set the laws but if they did...
Very harsh
Wow you must be a good dad with advice like that you might be related to the scum fighting in Southchurch reported yesterday

Joe Wildman says...
6:32pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Rollocks wrote:
So one laser pen can blind two pilots How on earth is that possible How many planes have crashed because of this It's not yobs its boys being boys
Simple the reflection of a laser light bounces off the internal surfaces of the cockpit, the number of reflective surfaces within the confined space increases the rate of reflection and randomises the reflective angle of the light beam just a few seconds of contact with the retina can cause blindness.

The damage could last a second or could be permanent only a brain dead moron would even consider perpetrating such an act.

Anyone doing it can be charged with wilfully endangering an aircraft this can lead to up to life imprisonment, they should make it a five year sentence with no parole.

As for boys being boys I don't know anyone who is thick enough to do it clearly you do, just about sums you up.

Joe Wildman says...
6:33pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Rollocks wrote:
Joe Wildman wrote: Anyone convicted of such a crime should be given a choice. A. Blinded B. Hand chopped off The theory behind the punishment they will only do it once of they choose A and a maximum of twice if they choose B. However there could be a option C. Stocks in the High Street, where people passing can buy rotten food to lob at them, they stay in the stocks fpr one week per person on board the aircraft. Carlsberg don't set the laws but if they did...
Very harsh Wow you must be a good dad with advice like that you might be related to the scum fighting in Southchurch reported yesterday
I hate crime, its time we came down hard on criminals or are you one of these limp wristed do gooders.

Rollocks says...
9:11pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Think what you what to !! Go wild!!

Rollocks says...
9:13pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Joe Wildman wrote:
Rollocks wrote:
So one laser pen can blind two pilots How on earth is that possible How many planes have crashed because of this It's not yobs its boys being boys
Simple the reflection of a laser light bounces off the internal surfaces of the cockpit, the number of reflective surfaces within the confined space increases the rate of reflection and randomises the reflective angle of the light beam just a few seconds of contact with the retina can cause blindness.

The damage could last a second or could be permanent only a brain dead moron would even consider perpetrating such an act.

Anyone doing it can be charged with wilfully endangering an aircraft this can lead to up to life imprisonment, they should make it a five year sentence with no parole.

As for boys being boys I don't know anyone who is thick enough to do it clearly you do, just about sums you up.
Zzzzzzzzzzs

Joe Wildman says...
10:59pm Thu 18 Oct 12

Rollocks wrote:
Joe Wildman wrote:
Rollocks wrote:
So one laser pen can blind two pilots How on earth is that possible How many planes have crashed because of this It's not yobs its boys being boys
Simple the reflection of a laser light bounces off the internal surfaces of the cockpit, the number of reflective surfaces within the confined space increases the rate of reflection and randomises the reflective angle of the light beam just a few seconds of contact with the retina can cause blindness.

The damage could last a second or could be permanent only a brain dead moron would even consider perpetrating such an act.

Anyone doing it can be charged with wilfully endangering an aircraft this can lead to up to life imprisonment, they should make it a five year sentence with no parole.

As for boys being boys I don't know anyone who is thick enough to do it clearly you do, just about sums you up.
Zzzzzzzzzzs
You asked I answered.

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