Andrew Wilson, 53, admitted pointing lasers at aircraft including an Airbus A320 flying over Yeovil with almost 200 people on board as it approached Bristol Airport
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Somerset man aims laser pointer at aircraft in 2022
A man who shone lasers at a plane as it approached Bristol Airport and risking the lives of nearly 200 passengers and crew has been jailed.
Andrew Wilson, 53, admitted pointing the lights that distracted pilots in aircraft and was sentenced to four months in prison. As well as a passenger plane, the defendant, from Martock, Somerset, also targeted a helicopter with his laser.
He admitted two counts of directing a laser beam at an aircraft, an offence under the Laser Misuse Act 2018. On the first occasion, at about 11.20pm on Thursday 3 August 2022, he targeted the helicopter flying over Yeovil.
And the second incident, at about 11.55pm on Monday 14 August, involved an Airbus A320 passenger plane flying over Yeovil on its descent to Bristol Airport, with almost 200 people on board. Fortunately both aircraft were able to make a safe landing although they did distract pilots.
One of the plane pilots stated in a personal statement read to Taunton Crown Court during the sentencing hearing that the laser attack happened during a “critical stage” of the flight. A video has now been released by Avon and Somerset Police showing the laser being directed at the aircraft.
A laser has the potential to cause temporarily blind people with the sudden brightness and could have devastating consequences if a plane is targeted. The pilot, reported said: “You can see how distractions and disturbances from laser attacks are dangerous whilst the pilots are required to be totally focused. Laser attacks on aircraft also have the ability to temporarily ‘flash blind’. Rendering one or both pilots blind whilst they are flying is obviously extremely dangerous.”
They added that such laser attacks can lead to retina damage and long-term degradation of eyesight which could cost a pilot their career, in view of the strict medical requirements for a pilot’s licence. Speaking after the hearing, officer in the case PC Jason Marshalsea said: “Shining a laser beam at an aircraft is dangerous and irresponsible and could result in catastrophic consequences. Wilson not only jeopardised the eyesight of several pilots, but he also unnecessarily and recklessly endangered the lives of hundreds of innocent people on those aircraft.”
