Air ambulance targeted by laser pen during emergency call

West Country
Devon Air Ambulance
Tuesday 24 January 2017 at 4:42pm

The Devon Air Ambulance Credit: ITV News

Devon Air Ambulance has warned people about the dangers of using laser pens, after one of its helicopters was targeted on an emergency call.

The crew were on their way to Holsworthy to help an elderly lady who had fallen when the pilot's vision was obstructed by a green laser.

It marks the first significant incident involving the Devon Air Ambulance, which happened a few weeks after the introduction of night operations.

The charity say the use of laser pens can distract pilots and cause lasting damage to eyes:

Thankfully on this occasion, due to a quick thinking crew member, the team were able to continue to Holsworthy to help the patient. However, we recognise that should this have not been the case, and had a crew member received injuries to their eyes or if the crew had been temporarily blinded, it might have meant aborting the mission and us not being able to get to a patient in need. Hand held lasers are not illegal in this country and they are usually quite low powered and suitable as presentation pointers. However, it is very easy to acquire military strength lasers on the internet at very low prices and it is the misuse of these higher powered lasers that has caused the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) and other industry bodies to call for them to be classed as offensive weapons.

Recent figures have revealed that lasers are being shone at aircraft more than three times a day on average.

The Civil Aviation Authority announced that 1,439 such incidents were reported in 2015.

The Devon Air Ambulance fully supports moves to get high-powered lasers classed as offensive weapons.