Police investigating third laser pen attack in Oxfordshire

Police are investigating a third laser pen attack on an aircraft in Oxfordshire.

An RAF aircraft was targeted at around 5.50pm on Saturday (22/02) while it was in flight.

It was flying in the Eynsham and Cassington area, around eight miles from RAF Brize Norton.

No injury was caused and the aircraft landed safely.

Investigating officer PC Renee Gabbey-Cristofini, based at Banbury police station, said: "This is the third such incident in the month of February, and I am appealing to anybody with any information about this latest attack to contact police."

In another incident this month, a young pilot was left with a damaged eye after a laser pen was pointed at the plane he was in.

Two training aircraft, flying to and from Oxford airport, were targeted from the ground around Chipping Norton and Charlbury.

The 21-year-old pilot, who's a student at Leading Edge Aviation, was left with a burn to his eye. The academy says it was a close call and as Tom Saunders, who's Chief Flying Instructor, says it's left the flying community 'shaken'.

Due to the location of the third incident, police are linking all three attacks.

Police are asking anyone with information on these incidents to call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.