VIDALIA, Ga. — The FBI is searching for someone who pointed a laser at a military aircraft in March.
Investigators are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone responsible.
The FBI says that around 9:50 a.m. on March 9, a U.S. Air Force aircraft was deliberately struck by a high-powered laser for about one minute. The laser caused temporary eye damage to a member of the flight crew on the aircraft, which was approaching the Savannah Air National Guard Base.
Investigators believe the laser strike originated from an area northeast of Vidalia.
When aimed at an aircraft, investigators said a beam of light from a laser can travel more than a mile and illuminate a cockpit, disorienting and temporarily blinding pilots.
It’s a federal felony to knowingly point the beam of a laser at an aircraft. Federal investigators in Georgia have been active in prosecuting people for using lasers. For example, in 2020, a Rincon man was indicted for aiming a laser pointer at three separate airplanes in 2019 and 2020. In August 2020, a Savannah man was indicted for aiming a laser pointer at a Chatham County police helicopter. Neither man has yet gone to trial.
This article was written by The Associated Press from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to [email protected].
© Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.