Laser strike on CHP aircraft leads to arrest
By: -----
Westminster, CA - One person was taken into custody in connection with a California Highway Patrol aircraft laser strike from surface streets in Orange County late last week.
The April 17 incident occurred just after 9 p.m. while CHP Fullerton Air Unit 51 was flying near Interstate 5 and State Route 91, according to CHP Westminster.
Cameras on the CHP aircraft captured what appeared to be multiple laser strikes from a person standing on a sidewalk in front of a Westminster home, where two children also appeared to be playing nearby.
Officers switched the aircraft camera into night-vision mode, giving them a clearer view of the suspect and revealing an approximate address in the 8600 block of Carnation Drive.
Westminster police officers responded to the location and arrested the suspect on suspicion of violating Penal Code 247.5.
“247.5 P.C. states: Any person who willfully and maliciously discharges a laser at an aircraft, whether in motion or in flight, while occupied, is guilty of this section,” CHP said. “Repercussions include fines up to $2,000 and or imprisonment between 16 months to up to 3 years.”
Investigators emphasized that laser strikes on aircraft are not only illegal but extremely dangerous. Pilots can be temporarily blinded or distracted by glare and flash blindness, increasing the risk of a catastrophic crash that could endanger people both in the air and on the ground.
News helicopter pilots and reporters have been targeted by laser strikes on multiple occasions, with each incident reported to local law enforcement.
Pointing a laser an aircraft is also a federal crime, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
“If you point a laser and interfere with the operation of an aircraft, that’s a felony,” the FBI said in a previous warning. “The crime carries a maximum of 20 years in federal prison and a quarter of a million dollars fine. In addition, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $11,000 for each violation.”
Authorities say they have been aggressively targeting those who shine lasers at aircraft, particularly in California, which led the nation in reported laser strike incidents in 2023.