Israir pilots posted alarming documentation on their Twitter account of an unknown source, who apparently tried to dazzle them minutes before landing at Ben Gurion Airport. According to the video, it is most likely a laser aimed at pilots from the Tel Aviv or Ramat Gan area.
According to the documentation, a laser beam was aimed from the ground into the cockpit while it was during the lowering towards landing at Ben Gurion Airport. The laser beam is seen penetrating the cockpit which, as mentioned, managed to photograph the dangerous glare attempt. It is currently unclear whether this was a deliberate or accidental dazzling attempt, but in a video lasting about ten seconds, the beam appears to enter the cockpit for three times.
It is important to emphasize that the aircraft has computer systems that assist in landing, but it is very important that the pilot has a comfortable and clean viewing space. Such an act may endanger the pilots and and interfere with the landing process.
Fortunately the incident ended without casualties, the company’s skilled pilots on the ATR aircraft were not too much affected by the glare attempt and landed the aircraft safely. The flight returned from Iasi, Romania.
The Twitter account of Israir pilots read: “It is dangerous for the crew, dangerous for flight safety and it is of course illegal. Photographed in the morning, final for runway 12.”
This is not the first time there has been an attempt to dazzle pilots. There have already been several such cases in the US and as a result the punishment has been aggravated and anyone who tries to dazzle pilots in the US may go to jail for 14 years.