Incident Near McAllen Int’l Was 6th Time In Four Months

A Department of Homeland Security helicopter patrolling the southern border of the U.S. near McAllen International Airport (MFE) in south Texas was struck three times by a laser pointed at the helicopter from a vehicle on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande River.

This incident was the sixth time in the last four months that Air Interdiction Agents were made to take evasive maneuvers after being struck by lasers.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a press release stating that the Airbus AS-350 helicopter was patrolling the border about 13 miles west of MFE when the incident occurred. In a similar incident in January involving an AS-350 helicopter in Jacksonville, Florida, the individual responsible was arrested and is facing felony charges.

The CBP release said, "No pilots or crew were injured in these cases, and the laser sightings are being investigated. When laser beams are aimed at any piloted aircraft, whether military or commercial, what might seem like a tiny beam on the ground can blind aircrew, potentially causing a midair collision or other incident."

Owning handheld lasers is not illegal, but pointing the laser into the cockpit of any aircraft is a federal crime that, if convicted, can result in up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

FMI:  www.cbp.gov/