"Patrols stepped up at Detroit airport after laser reports"

Sunday, February 27, 2005

Patrols stepped up at Detroit airport after laser reports
The Associated Press


ROMULUS, Mich. (AP) -- Patrols have been stepped up around Detroit
Metropolitan Airport after two Northwest Airlines pilots reported last week
that laser lights were shined into their cockpits as they were about to land
their planes. 

The FBI isn't releasing specific measures, but The Detroit News reported
Sunday that the Wayne County sheriff's department road patrol would be
informed of the reports and observant in the airport area. 

Laser lights were shined at the planes from an area along Interstate 94 just
east of the airport on Thursday night. Neither entered the cockpit or
affected the landing of the jets, airport officials said. 

A search around the airport was started shortly after the pilots filed their
reports, but no suspects were found. 

Over the past four months, the FAA has received dozens of reports of lasers
being pointed at airplanes in several states. Laser illuminations can
briefly disorient a pilot during the critical flight stages of ascending and
descending. 

Shining a laser at a plane can be considered a a 20-year federal felony of
interfering with flight crews.


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