Overview
- Texas DPS said a helicopter cockpit was hit by a laser during assistance to a Harris County Sheriff's Office manhunt, briefly illuminating the aircraft.
- Officials reported the individual responsible was located, though the person's name and potential charges had not been released as of Tuesday night.
- Green lasers pose heightened danger to pilots because human eyes are more sensitive to green light, increasing glare and the risk of temporary blindness.
- Federal law allows for penalties of up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines, with possible FAA civil penalties and felony charges if a flight is disrupted.
- A prior Houston-area case led to Jordan Dwaynel Jackson pleading guilty for 2021 laser strikes and receiving a 15-month federal prison sentence.