Police have issued a warning after “several” reports in recent days of lasers being shone at aircraft landing at RAF Northolt.
The Metropolitan Police believes the lasers are being aimed from somewhere in the local area, near Northolt, Ruislip, Harrow and Brent, and officers are now searching for those responsible.
Shining a laser at an aircraft carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, an unlimited fine, or both.
The Met said: “Shining a laser at an aircraft is not a harmless prank. Laser beams can dazzle, distract, or temporarily impair a pilot’s vision during critical stages of flight, including landing, potentially putting passengers, crew and people on the ground at risk.”
“The offence does not require an aircraft to be endangered; simply dazzling or distracting, or being likely to dazzle or distract, is enough to commit the offence.”
RAF Northolt is a military airfield in west London, but it also handles civilian flights including VIP transport. Aircraft on their final approach are at low altitude and slow speed, making sudden dazzle from a laser particularly dangerous for pilots.
The law on lasers and aircraft
Since 2018 it has been a specific offence under the Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Act to shine a laser beam at an aircraft, train, bus or vessel. The legislation closed a gap that previously made such acts hard to prosecute — and the penalties reflect how seriously the aviation industry takes the threat. Laser strikes on aircraft in UK airspace have run into the thousands in recent years, with Heathrow among the worst-affected airports.
Anyone with information, or who witnesses someone pointing a laser at an aircraft, is asked to call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
