There are some things that look harmless from the ground but can become extremely dangerous when viewed from the cockpit of an aircraft. A laser pointer is one of them. For someone standing on the ground, pointing a laser at an aircraft flying overhead may appear to be a harmless prank, an experiment, a way of attracting attention or simply an act of curiosity. But inside the cockpit, particularly during takeoff, approach or landing, that apparently tiny beam can suddenly become a serious aviation-safety threat. The latest figures released by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) show that the problem is declining, but it remains far too common. On September 17, 2026, the FAA reported that pilots had reported 4,470 laser strikes in the United States during 2026, representing a 24 percent decrease from the same period the previous year. This is the third consecutive year in which reported laser strikes have declined. However, the FAA says the numbers remain too high...
There are some things that look harmless from the ground but can become extremely dangerous when viewed from the cockpit of an aircraft.
A laser pointer is one of them.
For someone standing on the ground, pointing a laser at an aircraft flying overhead may appear to be a harmless prank, an experiment, a way of attracting attention or simply an act of curiosity. But inside the cockpit, particularly during takeoff, approach or landing, that apparently tiny beam can suddenly become a serious aviation-safety threat.
The latest figures released by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) show that the problem is declining, but it remains far too common.
On September 17, 2026, the FAA reported that pilots had reported 4,470 laser strikes in the United States during 2026, representing a 24 percent decrease from the same period the previous year. This is the third consecutive year in which reported laser strikes have declined. However, the FAA says the numbers remain too high. The agency also noted that laser strikes had reached an all-time high of 13,304 in 2023.
So what exactly happens when a laser hits an aircraft?
And why would anyone point one at a flying airplane in the first place?
The laser that looks tiny from the ground
One of the biggest misconceptions about laser strikes is that people imagine the beam remaining as a tiny dot when it reaches the aircraft.
That is not necessarily what happens.
When a laser beam reaches an aircraft, light can enter the cockpit directly or reflect from the windshield and other surfaces. The result can be a sudden flash or glare across the pilots' field of vision.
The FBI explains that a laser does not necessarily have to be aimed precisely at a pilot's eye to create a serious problem. Reflections from the cockpit windows can spread intense light across the pilot's field of view.
Imagine sitting in a dark cockpit at night and suddenly having a powerful concentrated light appear directly in front of you.
The effect can be startling.
And aviation is an environment in which even a momentary distraction can matter.
Why are laser strikes particularly dangerous during landing?
Takeoff and landing are among the most demanding phases of flight.
During an approach, pilots may be simultaneously monitoring:
Airspeed
Altitude
Aircraft configuration
Flight path
Runway alignment
Instrument indications
Weather
Other aircraft
Air traffic-control instructions
Terrain and obstacles
At night, the outside visual environment can be relatively dark. A sudden laser illumination can therefore be particularly disruptive.
The FAA says laser exposure can be especially hazardous when a direct beam or mirror-like reflection enters the pupil while the eye is focused on a distant object, such as a runway. The focusing action of the eye can greatly increase the energy density reaching the retina.
This is why the problem should not be dismissed as merely "someone shining a light at an airplane."
It can interfere with the very visual process pilots depend upon to safely control an aircraft.
Flash blindness, glare and afterimages
A laser strike can produce several visual effects.
One is glare — a bright light that makes it difficult to see what is behind or around it.
Another is flash blindness, in which vision is temporarily affected after exposure to an intense light source.
There can also be afterimages and temporary visual impairment.
The FBI has demonstrated how laser glare can appear from the cockpit at different distances from an aircraft. What appears to someone on the ground as a small beam can produce a much larger area of bright illumination when viewed through the cockpit windshield.
The consequences become particularly concerning if the aircraft is close to the runway.
A pilot doesn't have the luxury of saying, "I can't see properly for the next few seconds, so I'll just stop."
The airplane continues flying.
And it isn't only about temporary blindness
There is another concern: eye injury.
The FAA says that pointing lasers at aircraft can create a serious safety risk and that high-powered lasers can incapacitate pilots. The agency has recorded hundreds of pilot injuries associated with laser incidents since it began tracking them.
The FBI also notes that laser exposure can potentially damage the cornea or retina depending on the circumstances and power of the laser.
The important point is that the danger isn't theoretical.
The person on the ground may be thinking:
"It's only a laser pointer."
The pilot may be experiencing:
"I suddenly can't see properly."
Those are two very different realities.
A modern aircraft is not immune to the problem
It might be tempting to believe that sophisticated modern aircraft are protected against something as simple as a laser pointer.
They aren't.
An airliner may have highly advanced avionics, autopilot systems, weather radar, navigation equipment and multiple layers of safety. But pilots still need their eyes.
The aircraft's systems cannot simply replace the pilots' visual perception in every situation.
And even when the autopilot is engaged, a sudden visual distraction can still affect the crew's ability to monitor the aircraft and respond appropriately.
This is especially important during takeoff and landing.
The numbers are still alarming
The FAA's historical data show how dramatically the problem grew over the years.
Reported laser incidents included:
2010: 2,836
2015: 7,346
2020: 6,852
2021: 9,723
2022: 9,457
2023: 13,304
2024: 12,840
2025: 10,993
The latest 2026 report shows that the decline has continued, with 4,470 reported strikes through the period covered by the FAA's September 17 announcement.
The downward trend is encouraging, but thousands of laser strikes are still being reported.
And behind every number is a real cockpit and real people.
Why do people do this?
This is perhaps the most interesting part of the problem.
Why would somebody deliberately point a laser at an aircraft?
There isn't one universal answer.
Different incidents can have different motivations, and it would be wrong to assume that every person involved has the same intention.
1. Ignorance
Some people simply may not understand how dangerous a laser can be at long distances.
A person might see an aircraft overhead and think:
"Let's see if the laser can reach it."
They may have no understanding of the intensity of the beam from the pilot's perspective.
This is where education becomes extremely important.
2. Curiosity
People naturally experiment with objects that produce interesting visual effects.
A laser beam can travel surprisingly far, and seeing its light reach something in the sky can be fascinating.
But an aircraft is not an appropriate target for experimentation.
There are plenty of safe objects on the ground on which a laser can be used.
3. A prank
Some incidents may simply involve people behaving irresponsibly for amusement.
The person may believe that seeing the laser illuminate the aircraft is funny.
The problem is that the people inside the aircraft are not participating in the joke.
They may be carrying out a critical phase of flight.
4. Deliberate attempts to track aircraft
More serious cases involve people deliberately following an aircraft with the beam.
The FBI says investigators look for signs such as a laser continuing to track an aircraft as it moves, repeated illumination after the aircraft changes position, or clusters of reports involving aircraft passing through the same area.
That is very different from an accidental or isolated incident.
5. Easy availability
The FAA has identified several factors associated with the growth in laser incidents, including inexpensive laser devices, their availability in stores and online, stronger power levels and the popularity of green lasers, which are more visible to the human eye than red lasers.
The agency has also noted that greater pilot awareness and reporting contribute to the number of incidents recorded.
This is an important distinction.
An increase in reports does not necessarily mean every increase represents an equivalent increase in intentional attacks. Better awareness can also mean that more incidents are being reported.
Why green lasers are particularly noticeable
Green lasers have historically attracted particular attention in aviation safety discussions because green light is perceived as brighter by the human eye than comparable red light.
The FBI notes that green lasers became increasingly common in consumer use and subsequently featured prominently in reports from pilots.
This is one reason people should never assume that a consumer laser is harmless simply because it is small enough to hold in one hand.
Size does not tell you what the beam can do.
The legal consequences are serious
There is also a very simple reason not to do it:
It is illegal.
In the United States, knowingly aiming a laser at an aircraft or its flight path is a federal crime.
The FAA says people who shine lasers at aircraft can face civil penalties, while federal criminal penalties can include up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, in addition to possible state and local penalties.
The FAA also has authority to impose civil penalties for violations.
In other words, something that may begin as a few seconds of entertainment can turn into a serious criminal matter.
But punishment alone won't solve the problem
Strict enforcement is necessary, particularly in deliberate cases.
However, enforcement should not be the only strategy.
A successful laser-safety campaign needs at least three components:
education, detection and enforcement.
Education
People need to understand what actually happens inside the cockpit.
Showing the public photographs or simulations of what laser glare looks like from a pilot's perspective could be particularly effective.
Someone who thinks they are shining a tiny green dot at an aircraft might think differently after seeing the entire cockpit filled with glare.
The FAA and FBI already conduct awareness campaigns and outreach with law-enforcement agencies.
This type of education should begin early.
Children and teenagers in particular should be taught that a laser pointer is not a toy to be aimed at aircraft.
Responsible sales and labeling
Manufacturers and retailers also have a role.
Laser products should carry clear warnings explaining that they must never be directed toward aircraft.
Parents purchasing laser devices for children should understand the risks and supervise their use.
The FAA has specifically identified the availability and increasing power of consumer lasers as factors relevant to the problem.
Better detection and investigation
Once a laser strike occurs, authorities need to be able to locate the source.
This is where cooperation between pilots, air traffic controllers and law enforcement becomes important.
The FBI describes cases in which law-enforcement aircraft have helped locate laser sources, including through technologies such as infrared cameras.
A report from a pilot may therefore provide information that helps police identify the person responsible.
Better reporting
Reporting is extremely important because authorities cannot investigate incidents they don't know about.
The FAA asks pilots and crew members to report laser illumination to the appropriate air traffic-control facility and complete the relevant exposure report after landing. Members of the public who witness a laser being aimed at an aircraft can also report the incident.
The FAA uses these reports to identify geographical and time-of-day trends.
That information can help authorities determine where additional enforcement and public-awareness efforts may be needed.
Holiday laser displays deserve attention too
There is another dimension to this problem.
Not every dangerous laser illumination necessarily comes from someone trying to attack an aircraft.
Laser-light displays used for celebrations or decorations can also create a hazard if their beams are directed into the sky.
The FAA specifically warned in its latest announcement that holiday laser displays can potentially distract or temporarily blind pilots if aimed toward the sky.
This is an important distinction because the intention may be completely harmless.
But aviation safety depends not only on intention — it depends on the effect.
A homeowner may simply want to create an attractive light display.
A pilot approaching an airport may see an unexpected intense beam.
The solution is simple: keep laser beams away from the sky and aircraft operating areas.
What should an ordinary person do?
The safest rule is remarkably simple:
Never point a laser at an aircraft.
Not as a joke.
Not to see how far it reaches.
Not to attract the pilot's attention.
Not because you think the aircraft is far enough away.
And not because you believe the laser is too weak to matter.
If you see someone deliberately shining a laser toward an aircraft, report it to the appropriate authorities rather than confronting the person yourself.
If you are operating a laser-light display, make sure its beams cannot enter airspace used by aircraft.
The aviation community also has a role
Pilots and air traffic controllers are an important part of the prevention system.
A laser strike should be reported promptly because the information may help authorities determine the location and circumstances of the incident.
The FAA specifically requests that pilots and crew members report unauthorized laser illumination immediately through ATC and provide additional information after landing.
A seemingly minor incident could therefore become an important piece of evidence in identifying a repeat offender.
The larger lesson
Laser strikes are an unusual aviation-safety problem because the technology involved is so ordinary.
There is no need for an elaborate device.
A small handheld object can create a serious problem for an aircraft several thousand feet above the ground.
That is precisely why public awareness matters.
A person on the ground sees a laser.
A pilot sees a potential hazard to the safe operation of an aircraft.
And hundreds of passengers may be sitting behind that pilot.
The FAA's latest numbers show that progress is possible. Reported incidents are falling, and the agency attributes part of that progress to awareness efforts and cooperation with law enforcement.
But thousands of incidents are still too many.
Perhaps the most effective message is therefore also the simplest:
If you see an aircraft in the sky, admire it, photograph it, watch it — but keep the laser switched off.
A few seconds of curiosity or amusement are simply not worth creating a potentially dangerous situation for an entire aircraft.
A laser pointer may be a small object.
But when its beam reaches a cockpit at the wrong moment, its consequences can be anything but small.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for general aviation-safety awareness and is based primarily on information published by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Laws, penalties, reporting procedures and laser-safety regulations can differ between countries and jurisdictions. The discussion of possible motivations for laser strikes describes general possibilities identified or discussed by authorities and should not be interpreted as a psychological profile of all offenders.
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