Lasers Pointed At 11 Commercial Planes Flying Over N.J.

Eleven commercial flights reported lasers pointed at them as they flew over New Jersey on Wednesday night, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

There was no indication the 11 incidents led to any notable injuries or accidents, but about half of the incidents reported by the FAA were close to Newark Liberty International Airport, according to Jim Peters, spokesman for the agency.

The incidents happened between 9 and 10:30 p.m., Peters said. The FAA is investigating.

Others occurred in areas such as Robbinsville, near the Pennsylvania border, and Ocean City, with three American Airlines planes among those affected, as well as two from JetBlue and one each from United, Delta and Republic, according to the Peters.

The FAA says the lasers hit the left and right sides of the cockpits, along with the sides of the planes; lasers can distract and also temporarily blind pilots, and pointing one at a plane is a federal crime, according to Fox News.

Peters said people typically purchase laser pointers on the Internet and even in some stores. When asked why people would use such items, he said, “I have no idea.”

Laser pointers are typically used in presentations before groups, where the presenter uses the instrument to highlight elements of the presentation.

Here is a summary of where the laser events occurred:

• Porter 141 was at 3,000 feet 15 miles southwest of Newark Liberty International Airport;
• American Airlines 1472 was 20 miles southwest of Newark Airport;
• United Airlines 330 was at 9,000 feet seven miles northeast of Robbinsville;
• American Airlines 966 was at 3,000 feet 15 miles south of Newark Airport;
• Delta Air Lines 504, Shuttle America 3489 and JetBlue 828 were at 3,000 feet four miles south of the Outerbridge Crossing;
• JetBlue 2779 did not report its location;
• American Airlines 348 was at 9,000 feet over New Jersey heading to LaGuardia Airport;
• One aircraft reported it was illuminated when it was over Ocean City;
• Republic Airlines 4632 reported it was at 9,000 feet seven miles northeast of Robbinsville. The flight was heading to Pittsburgh, Pa.
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