Pilot blinded while flying over Cheltenham
A pilot was put in danger after a laser beam was shone into his eyes as he came in to land in Gloucestershire.
Police are hunting for a gang of reckless youths they believe are responsible for targeting the light aircraft.
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Officials have condemned the shocking incident, which happened as the chartered craft began its descent into Gloucestershire Airport over St Paul's.
The plane, which was en-route from Brussels, was lining up an approach to the Staverton strip when the ultra-bright green beam was blasted into the pilot's vision from the ground shortly after 7pm on November 18.
The incident, which was reported to the airport's traffic control tower, followed a spate of similar reports from motorists and residents in Cheltenham.
Police, who have pledged to step up patrols in St Paul's, say that 20 minutes before a motorist was temporarily blinded by a penetrating ray while driving along Tommy Taylors Lane.
Four teenage boys were spotted behaving strangely nearby at about the same time. One was tall, slim, and wearing a grey or dark-coloured hoodie.
The problem first surfaced when several concerned residents in St Paul's Road reported laser lights being shone into their living rooms on November 14, at about 6.30pm.
Then a gang of about eight youths were seen behaving suspiciously outside St Paul's Tavern. Sergeant Mark Stephens, of Gloucestershire police, said: "Whoever is responsible for these ludicrous acts need have no illusions as to the potential consequences. To shine a laser into the eyes of someone driving a car is totally stupid.
"To shine a laser at the pilot of an aircraft simply beggars belief. It is a very serious offence to recklessly endanger the safety of an aircraft.
"The penalty on conviction is severe. We will be increasing our presence in the area."
Gloucestershire Airport director Mark Ryan said yesterday: "We submitted a report to the police and the Civil Aviation Authority shortly after it happened. Though it's clearly a very dangerous thing to do, at no point was the pilot blinded or anybody's safety placed in immediate danger."
The aircraft attack has sparked memories of an incident in Cheltenham in 2007, when a police helicopter almost crashed while patrolling above the town. Mark Babbage, then of Old Millbrook Terrace in the town, was handed community service and fined after he admitted shining a high-power laser pen into the pilot's eyes above Hester's Way on Bonfire Night.
A police spokeswoman said that while laser lights or pens are not illegal, their inappropriate use is a criminal offence. Sgt Stephens said: "I am appealing to parents to consider the wisdom of allowing their kids to have these lasers and for those young people who do have them to grow up."
Anyone with information should contact Whaddon's safer community team on 0845 090 1234.
23 Comments
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by rev hutch, cheltenham
Monday, November 30 2009, 7:41PM
“lets thank the lord that the helicopter was a mile up in the sky with nothing to hit.”
by sceptical, chelt
Saturday, November 28 2009, 12:22AM
“The reason these things are dangerous is not, as many appear to think , because of them being shone directly into the eyes but because the beam hits all the small imperfections in the glass or plastic screens and refracts around, thereby effectively making the screen impossible to see through.”
by hutch, cheltenham
Friday, November 27 2009, 7:49PM
“i was with mark babbage the night he drunkenly made the mistake of pointing the laser pen at a helicopter above a car park in the town center..he didn't do it to blind the pilot but to show us how far it would go.
at no point did he shine it at the front of the helicopter it was shone at the tail. then we left the car park to go to crickley hill i noticed the helicopter was following us when we were driving up leckhamton hill and told the people in my car and then saw blue lights approaching then just after the daisey bank road turn we were pulled over by about 15 police cars 2 police bikes dragged out of the car and treated like armed robbers.
now the reason his sentence was so small was he never threatened the life of the air crew thats a lie and it was brought up in court so that should not of been put in the echo the same as the pen was shone from hesters way that was also a lie.
it was a drunkum mistake which he made and he payed his fine and done his community service.
he's payed his price so it should be left alone not brought back up in the papers when these youngsters that have done it now are doing it on pupose because its happened to more than one airoplane and been reported..
i know i'll get people moaning back at me for writing this but if he would of indangered the lives of these people in the helicopter i dont thing he would of got a fine and community service.
he is a hard working family man who made a mistake when in drink which i dare say most of us have..
instead of dirtying his life try and get the facts right and write about the people doing this on purpose.”
by Richard, Cheltenham
Thursday, November 26 2009, 2:28PM
“I could'nt believe my eyes when I saw this article. Last Thursday I was playing 5 a side with a few friends in the hall at Leisure @ Cheltenham. When a young Lad started shining a laser in my mates eye. I remonstrated with him to stop as it was dangerous. He then bolted down the stairs to confront me. I said to him calmly to "pack it in" as we were trying to play. This horrible feral creature who was about 15 tall, skinny with a grey hoodie stepped to me and says "effing c'mon then you pr&*ck". I was shocked taking into account my age,34. I come from Liverpool and yes the kids can be awful, but they never disrespect their elders like this lad did because they will know what will happen i.e a swift clout. I honestly believe that the schools and/or some bad parents are failing society as they fail to discipline teenagers properly. I worried what kind of world my child is coming into”
by Will M, Glos
Wednesday, November 25 2009, 9:37PM
“Sorry several typing errors! Irony methinks.”