JetBlue plane lands safely after being hit by laser

Dec. 10 (UPI) -- A JetBlue flight was able to land safely at Palm Beach International Airport on Monday evening after someone attempted to blind the pilot and co-pilot with a laser pointer.

The laser was pointed at the plane from the ground as it came in for landing around 8 p.m.

Deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office began a search by ground and air for the person or persons responsible for shooting the laser at the plane but had not located any suspects by 11 p.m.

The PBSO cautions that pointing a laser at someone who is operating a motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft resulting in bodily injury is guilty of a second-degree felony. If the plane had actually crashed, the charge would have increased to a first-degree felony.

This is not the first incident of this type to happen at PBIA and police say that laser pointers being aimed at aircrafts is a continuing problem.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.

[WPTV]