"Laser Beam Shined Into Cockpit Near Dallas Airport"

Wednesday, February 9, 2005

Airline pilot reports laser incident
The Associated Press


GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) -- The captain of an American Airlines jet reported a
laser beam penetrated the cockpit as the plane prepared to land at
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

The pilot was examined after Sunday night's incident and doctors found no
permanent damage to his eyes. His first officer was flying the plane, which
landed safely.

The bright lasers -- usually green -- can temporarily blind pilots.

The jet was on approach to DFW on a flight from San Antonio when the pilot
noted the laser beam for a second or two, Gregg Overman, a member of the
Allied Pilots Association, told television station KXAS on Tuesday.

An American Airlines spokesman said the airline is working with the Federal
Aviation Administration and air traffic control to investigate.

Overman said the association would urge prosecution if the laser beam
incident was intentional.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced on January 12 January
that the government was requiring pilots to immediately report lasers being
beamed at airplanes. At the time, Mineta said there had been 31 such
incidents in 2005.

The new Federal Aviation Administration guidelines are meant to speed word
of such incidents to air traffic controllers, who would then repeatedly
broadcast warnings and quickly notify law officers.


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