Feds Worried That Laser-Pointing Incidents Could Be Work Of Terrorists

"Is this kids with pranks, or something that is more of a challenge to the system?"

That question, posed by the Dr. Linda Connell, director of the Aviation Safety Reporting System at NASA's Ames Research Center, is top on the minds of commercial and corporate pilots around the country. At least six times in the past couple of days, someone has pointed powerful lasers at the cockpits of passing aircraft.

In one of the latest episodes, the flight crew aboard a Cessna Citation with 13 passengers on board said three green lasers lit up the cockpit on approach to Teterboro, NJ. The beams of light were believed to have originated near a shopping mall close to the approach path, about 11 miles from the airport, according to law officers.

The aircraft landed without incident. There were no injuries.

Similar incidents have been reported in Cleveland, OH and near Colorado Springs, CO. In each case, the aircraft involved landed safely, but authorities are now worried that the epidemic of laser hits could be the work of terrorists.

That theory, put forth by some local law officers, has at least partial backing from Washington. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have issued memos to local law enforcement agencies saying terrorists have, in the past, looked into the use of lasers as weapons to be aimed at passing aircraft.

FMI: www.dhs.gov