Laser Light Prank Creates Mess at Tampa International

Passengers flying into or out of Tampa International Airport Sunday night might have noticed a change in routes for all landing and departing flights.

What caused the ruckus?

An abundance of caution in the midst of a prank Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies say was pulled off by a 24-year-old Carrollwood man.

That man, Ahmed Elhelw, decided to pass the time by pointing a laser lighting device at four commercial aircraft as they headed toward the airport, deputies say. He also pointed the light at a Tampa Police Department helicopter four times within a four-minute time frame, an email to media from sheriff’s office spokeswoman Cristal Bermudez Nunez said.

“The defendant’s actions caused TIA to change the landing and departure routes of the entire airport,” Bermudez Nunez wrote.

Deputies swung into action tracing the source of the light to the Carrollwood Palms apartment complex at 4302 Gunn Highway. When they arrived, Elhelw admitted to pointing the light. The act was also witnessed by his friends and, of course, the pilot of the police helicopter.

Elhelw didn’t necessarily mean any harm by pointing the light.

“He was just goofing around,” said sheriff’s office spokeswoman Melissa Kincheloe.

Even so, goofing around has landed him in the Hillsborough County Jail. He faces one count of misuse of laser lighting, which is a third-degree felony. He was being held Monday morning in lieu of $2,000 bond.

Tampa International Airport officials did not immediately return calls. Kincheloe, however, said the rerouting of flights was undertaken out of an abundance of caution while the incident was investigated.

Photo Credit: Ahmed Elhelw/Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office