Laser Strikes on U.S. Aircraft Fall, but Federal Penalties Remain Severe

Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a federal crime under Title 18, United States Code, Section 39A. The provision was established after passage of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. Individuals caught pointing lasers at planes face federal criminal prosecution carrying penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, in addition to applicable state or local criminal charges.

The FAA also has administrative authority to impose civil enforcement penalties. The agency can issue civil fines of up to $11,000 per violation.

When a laser strike occurs, standard flight safety procedures require pilots to report the event immediately to air traffic controllers. The report includes the flight’s location, altitude, and direction, along with the approximate origin and color of the beam. Controllers immediately broadcast hazard warnings to surrounding aircraft in the sector and forward position coordinates to local law enforcement agencies to track ground suspects.

Exposure to bright laser beams can cause sudden glare, temporary flashblindness, spatial disorientation, and persistent afterimages, aviation safety specialists warn. The effects pose severe operational hazards during critical low-altitude phases of flight, including night landings on final approach and early climbouts after takeoff, when flight crews have minimal time to recover control of the aircraft.

According to Federal Aviation Administration figures released Thursday, pilots logged 4,470 laser strikes between January and July of 2026. That mid-year total was 24 percent lower than the figure for the same seven-month period in 2025.

California recorded the highest volume in the nation, with 614 incidents between January and July, while Texas ranked second with 445 reports. On a per capita basis, New Mexico and Hawaii led all states in the rate of aircraft laser incidents.


Federal law enforcement agencies and civil aviation authorities continue highlighting the legal consequences and persistent risks of targeting planes with high-powered light. The 2026 decline marked the third consecutive year that reported laser illuminations decreased nationwide.

The FAA officially established a centralized laser strike reporting database in 2010 to monitor cockpit safety hazards and assist law enforcement tracking efforts. Since systematic tracking began 16 years ago, pilots have reported 322 injuries caused by laser exposure on duty.