Shocking moment green laser is aimed at plane with 200 passengers on board: ... trends now
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This is the shocking moment a green laser was aimed at a plane with 200 passengers on board.
Video footage released by police shows a green laser flashing into the sky.
Andrew Wilson, 53, from Somerset, first targeted a helicopter flying over Yeovil at about 11.20pm on Thursday, August 3, 2022.
Then, at about 11.55pm on Monday, August 14, Wilson did the same to an Airbus A320 passenger plane flying over Yeovil on its descent to Bristol Airport, with almost 200 people on board.
Thankfully both aircraft were able to make a safe landing.
Andrew Wilson (pictured), 53, from Somerset, first targeted a helicopter flying over Yeovil at about 11.20pm on Thursday, August 3, 2022
A video grab of Wilson shining the laser at an aircraft in August 2022
One of the plane pilots stated in a personal statement read to the court that the laser attack happened during a 'critical stage' of the flight.
They said: 'You can see how distractions and disturbances from laser attacks are dangerous whilst the pilots are required to be totally focused …
'Laser attacks on aircraft also have the ability to temporarily 'flash blind' … Rendering one or both pilots blind whilst they are flying is obviously extremely dangerous.'
They added that such laser attacks can lead to retina damage and long-term degradation of eyesight which could cost a pilot their career, in view of the strict medical requirements for a pilot's