KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Federal Aviation Administration said lasers are increasingly being pointed toward aircraft, especially in Tennessee. It said over the last year, more than 13,300 incidents of lasers being pointed towards aircraft were reported.
It's a violation of federal law to point lasers at aircraft. People can face up to a $250,000 fine and five years in prison if they are convicted of dangerously shining lasers at planes.
"The first thing you notice is the light. It'll hit something in the cockpit and it'll illuminate the entire cockpit," said Whit Mahan, from an aircraft rental service in Blount County. "In the short-term, and as they're flying, they have the ability to still read everything in the cockpit. But, then also some of the long-term effects that this could have on your eyes."
The FAA said more than 400 incidents involving laser strikes have been reported this year in Tennessee.
"When a laser event happens, we do communicate those to air traffic control. We are able to give a general location, and that gives them a good idea of exactly where I am then they can communicate with local law enforcement exactly where the origin might be," said Mahan. "It's happened to me personally on several different occasions. It's happened to our pilots as well."
Leaders said the best way to prevent incidents of lasers pointed at aircraft is through education — showing people that pointing lasers at aircraft can impact the ability of pilots to fly planes.
"You want the pilot to be able to safely operate the aircraft all the way back, and land safely wherever they're headed," said Mahan.