Laser lights flashed at planes threaten flight safety

Hanoi (VNA) – Pointing lasers at planes are posing real threats to flight safety, according Nguyen Dac Tuan, Deputy Head of the National Civil Aviation Security Committee.

The dangerous act threatens takeoffs and landings, Tuan said, referring to recent cases of lasers pointed at planes at Noi Bai International Airport, though they have not caused real damage yet.

Since the beginning of this year, four cases of lasers flashed at planes occurred at Noi Bai International Airport. A similar case was detected at Pleiku airport and the other at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Tuan said the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) has warned countries of lasers-caused possible dangers to flight safety.

In Vietnam, Ordinance 16/2011/UBTVQH on the management and use of weapons, explosives and support devices details the use of laser lights.

An investigation into the source of the lasers used in these cases is still underway, Tuan said.

He added that the committee sent documents recommending Hanoi’s steering committee on fighting terrorism and Vinh Phuc province’s police to implement measures to end the use of laser pointers directed at planes.

Earlier, the committee also issued Instruction No. 02 on March 4, 2016 asking the steering committees for emergencies in provinces and cities and air companies to proactively prevent similar acts.

There has been an increase in the use of laser pointers at cultural-social events, so it is necessary to raise people’s awareness of lasers’ possible threat to flight safety, especially in areas surrounding airports.

Pham Minh Trong, Deputy Head of the Division of Flight Safety Standards under the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (ACCV), said directing lasers at the cockpit of a plane definitely distracts pilots, and demanded the end of this act.

Dinh Duc Tuan, Boeing 787 captain for Vietnam Airlines, said lasers could potentially hurt pilots’ eyes and distract them during landings and take-offs.-VNA