Pointing Lasers at a Plane Will Get You 2 Years

Stunt caused flash blindness in one pilot

By SCOTT WEBER

Updated 10:34 AM PST, Tue, Nov 3, 2009

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Dana Christian Welch has the unusual distinction of being the first person in the nation to be convicted of interfering with pilots by aiming lasers at their planes. As a result, the 37 year-old Orange County man will spend 2 1/2 years in federal prison.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherilyn Peace Garnett, Welch aimed a laser beam at two Boeing 7-series jets as the pilots were about to land at John Wayne Airport. The first plane, a United Airlines jet, was carrying more than 180 passengers and crew members. The second, operated by Alaska Airlines, was carrying more than 80 people.

The laser beam struck a United pilot in the eye, causing "flash blindness," Garnett said.

When Welch pointed the laser at the Alaska plane, one pilot ducked under a glare shield and the other pilot delayed a critical turn necessary to land the plane.

While several people across the country have pleaded guilty to federal charges of pointing lasers at aircraft, Welch was the first to be convicted of interfering with pilots by beaming lasers at their planes, the U.S. Attorney's Office noted.

Copyright City News Service / NBC Los Angeles

First Published: Nov 2, 2009 3:52 PM PST

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0 Comments

{"totSize":5,"payload_type":"json","status":"1","results":[{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"390259_68751857","adminTags":null,"views":981,"createdBy":14051336,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Pointing a Laser Beam at a Plane Will Get You 2 Years in Prison","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2629953,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"3 Nov 2009 19:14:33 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"Turbineguy","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1175677","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Stupid is as stupid does. Still, 2 1/2 years sounds like a lot - I'd think 6 months is more appropriate. Maybe I'd feel differently if it had happened to me?"},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"390259_68751857","adminTags":null,"views":981,"createdBy":14051594,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Pointing a Laser Beam at a Plane Will Get You 2 Years in Prison","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2629953,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"3 Nov 2009 19:36:33 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"pelican64","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1175913","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Good! This should get wide press coverage so that the other idiots out there who apparently think this is harmless will smarten up. Welch was old enough to have known better. There have been many incidents in both the US and Canada where green lasers have been used, one in Toronto where the co-pilot of a med-evac helicopter has been off work for a few months due to retina damage which fortunately is not long term and he will return to work in another few months. It is no secret that lasers, particularly green lasers, can blind people so there is no excuse for anyone over the age of 5 years not knowing that when thei aim one of these at an airplane they could get someone killed. But airliners have been targetted there as well. many stupid people these days don't stint themselves when it comes to their own enjoyment-so let them enjoy the perks or a federal prison. "},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"390259_68751857","adminTags":null,"views":981,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Pointing a Laser Beam at a Plane Will Get You 2 Years in Prison","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2629953,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"3 Nov 2009 19:47:13 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1176030","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"This may seem trivial at first. I remember not thinking much of pointing lasers at cars and people. But I was just a child. This man is 37 years old! He is endangering over 260 lives. I am a pilot and this could cause a serious problem. Luckily airlines are required to operate with two pilots, but can you imagine how scary it would be, descending on an airport, with over a hundred people behind you, counting on you, when you suddenly go blind???"},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"390259_68751857","adminTags":null,"views":981,"createdBy":14053680,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Pointing a Laser Beam at a Plane Will Get You 2 Years in Prison","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2629953,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"3 Nov 2009 21:25:16 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"fb_732403682","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1176967","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Turbineguy - I'm not sure 2 1/2 years is enough for 260 counts of attempted murder."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"390259_68751857","adminTags":null,"views":981,"createdBy":12329328,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Pointing a Laser Beam at a Plane Will Get You 2 Years in Prison","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2629953,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"3 Nov 2009 22:23:43 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"All_Hallows_Eve","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1177423","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Moron. Glad he was caught. "}],"error":"","totPages":1}