San Antonio Pilots Increasingly โคTargetedโข by Risky Laser Strikes
San Antonio-areaโ pilots are facing a growing threat from โindividuals aiming lasers at aircraft, jeopardizing critical โmissions and perhaps โendangering lives. both law enforcement and air ambulance pilots reportโฃ a โsignificant increase โคinโ theseโข incidents, whichโ can disrupt โคoperationsโฃ and cause temporary vision impairment.
San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) “Eagle” helicopter pilotโค Hernandez described a โขrecent experience where a blue laser illuminated the entire cockpit due โฃto light refraction off the helicopter’s windows.โ “It takes our focus away from that important job,” Hernandez stated, โขhighlighting the disruption to missions like responding โto shootings, robberies, and searches forโข missing children.โค Hernandez โฃreported being lasered approximately eight times in a two-month period.
The danger โฃextends beyond law enforcement aircraft. air Methods helicopter air โคambulance pilot Mike Biasatti, with โoverโข two decades of experience, emphasized the risk to patients and crew during critical medical transports. “Obviously, โif the patient’s on board, the crew’s on board, you know the outcome could be catastrophic,” heโ said. He estimates hearing reports of laser strikes at โขleast โonce every โother shift.
Data confirms this increaseโ in incidents statewide, encompassingโ helicopters, small planes, and commercial airliners. Authorities believe many strikes go unreported. Pilots describe the laser beams as deceptively bright, and underestimate โคthe potential harm.
A recent case โฃon โNovember 3, 2023, illustrates the severity of the issue. An SAPD helicopter assisting with a shooting call was โrepeatedly struck โby an intense green laser for five to ten minutes while flying near Kelly Field.โ The pilot experienced temporary flash โblindness and was forced to maneuver the helicopter to avoidโ the beam.โฃ Sandra Roberson was identified as the source of the laser and admittedโค to shining it, initially believing she was targeting a drone. She apologized after learning she had targeted a police helicopter.
Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime.โ Violators face potentialโ local and federal charges, including โคfines of up to โข$32,646 per incident โand upโฃ to five years in federal โฃprison. โฃLast year, a Texas womanโค received aโ three-year federal prison โคsentence for a similar offense.
Biasatti suggests potential solutions, suchโค as restricting laser device โขsalesโข or implementing a tax to fund public education about the dangers. Law enforcement confirms thay are actively investigating and prosecuting theseโฃ incidents, regardless of intent.