LASER beams have been directed at the cockpit windows of planes landing at a Queensland airport three times in the last month, putting passengers' lives at risk. Aviation officials believe a strong green laser was aimed at two 18-passenger planes and a 125-seat Jetstar Boeing 717 as they lined up to land at Maroochydore Airport. Two, including the Jetstar incident, took place in December while the third was reported last week about 22km from the airport as the plane was on a final approach in the evening. The federal Government has grave concerns about the incidents. Transport Minister John Anderson's spokesman warned that "any act that would potentially endanger the flying public will not be tolerated". "The Government treats the shining of lasers into the cockpits of landing aircraft very seriously, and there are extremely heavy penalties for anybody found to be deliberately engaging in this stupid and dangerous practice," the spokesman said. Airline officials warned any person caught recklessly endangering an aircraft could face a 14-year jail term and, in some circumstances, life imprisonment.
The officials believe the laser could be similar to readily available devices used in the surveying and construction industry. Airservices Australia spokesman Richard Dudley confirmed that a number of incidents had been reported to the air-traffic control provider and were being investigated by Queensland police. "The reason it's regarded as an extremely serious matter is that obviously a laser beam being shone into an aircraft cockpit can not only distract the pilots but may also, more seriously, result in an accident," Mr Dudley said. The incidents are similar to US cases that prompted an FBI crackdown and ultimately saw New Jersey man David Banach facing up to 25 years' jail and fines of up to $US500,000 ($662,000) for anti-terrorism violations. Commercial pilot Richard Woodward said pointing a laser anywhere near an aircraft was "foolish in the extreme and incredibly dangerous". "It may cause retinal damage or it may just be temporary, but the consequences are frightening," Mr Woodward said. "Over a built-up area like Maroochydore it is endangering everyone's lives - not only the people on the aeroplane but the people on the ground." Mr Woodward, technical director of the Australian and International Pilots Association, said the issue of flash blindness from lasers was one that had been worrying pilots for years.