The Federal Research Office has been investigating a “dramatic increase” in dangerous laser attacks at several state airports in Washington, authorities said.
The pilots who land at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Spokane have experienced a wave of green science fiction lasers that shine in their cabins in recent months, including the recent trial of a man who allegedly tried the strikes in fantastic airplanes, Spokane County said in a press release on Wednesday.
A 45 -year -old man was arrested last Friday to carry out three different laser attacks on different aircraft, even in a regional helicopter of the Air Support Unit, near the Spokane airport, Announced the county.
The helicopter noticed that the green laser hit his cabin and supposedly discovered Rusty Flett hidden behind an energy post, authorities said.
Flett could now face multiple charges for serious crimes of the Washington state of illegal discharge of a first -degree laser or federal federal charges for the alleged mischief, said the county.
No one was injured in the incident, according to liberation.
The officials warn that the lasers could interfere with the landing of an airplane and represent a risk of injuries in the flight crew, passengers and pilots.
There were 43 laser incidents only in March in Washington, and 106 in the state in 2025 so far, The street reported.
In all 2024, there were 383 incidents in Washington, said the departure.
The researchers believe that several people are responsible for the laser explosions, and do not see the instances in the two separate airports that will be related, added the county.
The FBI is working with multiple state and local agencies to investigate reports in the areas of Seattle and Spokane, authorities said.
Shining a laser pointer in a plane is a federal crime. If it is convicted, a person could be sentenced to five years in prison and face a fine of $ 250,000.
