Laser strikes target Nebraska State Patrol pilots

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Law enforcement pilots in Nebraska say their safety in the sky is being threatened by lasers.

Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a federal felony offense, carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

But that hasn’t stopped laser strikes.

SEE ALSO: Omaha man gets over a year in prison for aiming laser pointer at police helicopter

In 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration received 13,304 laser strike reports from pilots, a 41% increase over 2022.

Nebraska State Patrol pilot Barry Hinkle said some strikes over the weekend in Lincoln targeted patrol helicopters.

Hinkle said he’s been a victim himself and described what it feels like.

“It creates a very bright flash at the cabin,” Hinkle said. “It’s very disoriented to begin with, and once we figure out what it is, we start our search trying to find out where it comes from.”

SEE ALSO: Police searching for person who pointed laser at helicopter in Columbus

Hinkle said the effects of laser strikes can range from leaving a pilot blind to causing a crash.

“In that event that the pilot is blinded by that light, then nobody’s flying that aircraft,” he said. “And there’s potential for a crash and death.”

Pilots have reported 313 injuries since the FAA began recording data on laser strikes in 2010.

SEE ALSO: Lincoln man arrested after pointing laser at Nebraska State Patrol helicopter