Overview

• Reports of laser strikes against aircraft surged 41% in 2023, reaching a record high of 13,304 incidents, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
• FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker warned that laser strikes pose a serious safety threat to pilots, passengers, and those on the ground.
• Since the FAA began recording data in 2010, pilots have reported 313 eye injuries due to laser strikes.
• The surge in laser strikes is attributed to the widespread availability of inexpensive lasers online, stronger devices that can hit planes at higher altitudes, and increased awareness among pilots to report incidents.
• Offenders can face FAA fines up to $11,000 per violation, or $30,800 for multiple infractions, in addition to criminal penalties from federal, state, and local law enforcement.