Fifth Incident At BOS Since 2005; Over 900 Across Country

Sadly, we have yet another laser-pointed-at-a-plane story to tell you about. The latest example happened Saturday night, as Northwest Airlines Flight 170 was on approach to land at Boston's Logan International Airport.

The Boston Globe reports the pilot called the tower at 10:25 pm local time, saying "we're being painted by a laser." The aircraft was descending through 5,000 feet when the strong, green light shone into the cockpit.

There were no injuries reported (laser light can cause temporary night blindness; at least one pilot has suffered retinal damage) and the jet landed uneventfully. Controllers steered later flights away from the area, approximately seven miles southeast of the airport.

The exact location from where the light emanated was unknown, according to FAA spokesman Jim Peters.

Pilots have reported over 900 laser incidents across the country, since the FAA began recording them in late 2004. Logan has seen five incidents involving lasers since 2005.

As ANN reported, in May Congress approved legislation to authorize up to a five-year prison sentence for the crime of pointing a laser at a plane... but the new law hasn't seemed to deter pranksters and other pointer-wielding miscreants. Just last week, police in Tulsa, OK arrested a man for pointing a laser at a helicopter.

Not just any helicopter, either. This one had cops in it, who were searching for an auto theft suspect. They nabbed the laser-user instead.

FMI: www.massport.com/logan/default.aspx