Laser pointed at military plane over NJ

TRENTON — A laser was pointed at a military craft on approach to the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on Friday night.

FAA spokesman Jim Peters said the crew of a C-17 military transport aircraft reported  a green laser was pointed at the plane as it was 4,000 feet in the air, about 20 miles southeast of McGuire, around 9:15 p.m.

Peters said Seaside Heights Police were notified and the FAA will investigate the incident. There were 135 incidents in 2016 of lasers being pointed at planes over New Jersey, according to Peters.

Aiming a light of laser at an aircraft is a federal crime. The lasers can distract pilots during landing and takeoff and can even cause them temporary blindness, according to the FAA. Several pilots have reported being temporarily visually impaired by laser exposure. Some of these exposures have resulted in operational problems, including giving up control of the aircraft to another pilot and aborted landings.

Last March, a laser was pointed at a KC-10 refueling jet flying about 4,000 feet over Lacey Township heading for the Joint Base.

Seaside Heights Police did not return a message on Sunday.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

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