Officials emphasize safety risks and severe penalties as laser incidents rise across Northern Ohio.
CLEVELAND, OH – The FBI’s Cleveland Division, along with the Ohio State Highway Patrol and Toledo Police Department, is reminding the public that pointing lasers at aircraft is not a prank—it’s a serious federal offense that endangers pilots, passengers, and people on the ground.
Key Points
- Laser strikes can blind or disorient pilots and have caused thousands of flight disruptions nationwide.
- Offenders face federal fines up to $250,000 and prison sentences of up to five years.
- Ohio recorded 262 laser strike incidents in 2025, including attacks on commercial, medical, and military aircraft.
Lasers pose serious risk to pilots
Federal officials say laser beams aimed at cockpits can cause flash blindness, temporary vision loss, or lasting eye damage. A beam that appears small on the ground can expand to the size of a basketball by the time it reaches an aircraft, filling the cockpit with blinding light.
“While pointing a laser at aircraft may seem trivial or playful, the reality is that it puts the pilot in danger,” said FBI Cleveland Special Agent in Charge Greg Nelsen. “Advances in technology allow us to locate and apprehend perpetrators within moments—and we will bring them to justice.”
Captain Justin Cromer of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Aviation Unit added that laser strikes threaten the safety of flight crews statewide. “Anyone who aims a laser at an aircraft is putting lives at risk in the air and on the ground,” he said.
Green lasers among most dangerous
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), most reported laser strikes involve green or purple beams, which are more visible and more likely to cause vision impairment. The FAA recorded more than 10,000 laser strike reports nationwide in 2025.
Laser strikes have been reported on a range of aircraft across Northern Ohio, including medevac helicopters, military planes, and student training flights. Toledo Police Sgt. Mohamad Nasser urged residents to report anyone aiming a laser at the sky. “These incidents are taken seriously and will be investigated to identify those responsible,” he said.
Federal penalties and ongoing investigations
Congress made laser strikes on aircraft a federal crime in 2012. Those convicted can face up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and FAA civil penalties of $11,000 per violation. The FBI and FAA say they use tracking technology, air traffic coordination, and infrared imaging to locate suspects in real time.
Anyone witnessing someone pointing a laser toward an aircraft is urged to report it immediately by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submitting a tip at tips.fbi.gov.
Tags: FBI, aviation safety, Ohio