Somerset man jailed after shining laser at passenger plane

A man has been jailed after shining a laser at a plane that was carrying almost 200 passengers.

Andrew Wilson, 53, from Martock, Somerset, directed a laser at an Airbus A320, which was flying over Yeovil on its descent to Bristol Airport, at 23:55 BST on 14 August 2022.

He also admitted shining a laser beam at a helicopter, which was flying over Yeovil at 23:20 BST on 3 August 2022.

He was sentenced at Taunton Crown Court to four months in prison.

Avon and Somerset Police said both aircraft were able to make a safe landing after the attacks.

'Recklessly endangered lives'

In a personal statement read to the court on Thursday, one of the pilots said the laser attack happened during a "critical stage" of the flight.

They said: "You can see how distractions and disturbances from laser attacks are dangerous whilst the pilots are required to be totally focused.

"Laser attacks on aircraft also have the ability to temporarily 'flash blind'… rendering one or both pilots blind whilst they are flying is obviously extremely dangerous."

Andrew Wilson admitted two counts of directing a laser beam at an aircraft

They also said such laser attacks can lead to retina damage and long-term degradation of eyesight which could cost a pilot their career.

PC Jason Marshalsea, an officer who worked on the case, said: "Shining a laser beam at an aircraft is dangerous and irresponsible and could result in catastrophic consequences."

Mr Marshalsea said Wilson, who admitted to two counts of directing a laser beam at an aircraft at an earlier hearing, "not only jeopardised the eyesight of several pilots" but "recklessly endangered the lives of hundreds of innocent people" on board the aircraft.