Two pilots on planes dazzled by lasers

HUNDREDS of passengers on two aeroplanes were put at risk when their pilots were dazzled with lasers.

The laser beams were shone at the planes on Friday night as they were about to land at airports in the south-west of England.

At around 8pm a Thomson Airbus, carrying between 170 and 180 holidaymakers and crew from Corfu, was targeted as it made its final approach to land at Exeter airport, Devon.

Devon and Cornwall Police said the light appeared to come from a sports ground in the Whipton area of the city, about three miles from the airport.

At 9.17pm, a Flybe pilot was left “shaken” when a laser was beamed into his aircraft, police said.

The plane was about to land at Newquay Cornwall airport and had 60 passengers on board.

“The pilot described it as being targeted at the plane for about 30 seconds,” said Inspector Ian Milligan.

“Both these incidents have been crime-recorded because it is an offence to do anything that could recklessly endanger an aircraft.

“Anyone caught shining lasers at planes could find themselves facing substantial punishments in terms of imprisonment.”

Insp Milligan said there was nothing to suggest the laser attacks were conducted by the same person.

Stephen Ayres, duty manager at Exeter airport, said: “The air traffic controllers reported the incident to the Civil Aviation Authority and the police sent up a force helicopter to investigate.”