Lasers shined at dozens of planes approaching PDX

PORTLAND, Ore. – Somebody has been shining lasers at aircraft landing at Portland International Airport, police said on Friday.

The Port of Portland Police Department has received 54 reports since the beginning of the year of someone aiming lasers at aircraft as they make their final approach into PDX.

In many cases, the person shining the laser appeared to be in Portland’s Gateway area, according to airport spokesman Steve Johnson.

Johnson said the lasers can distract pilots during the critical final moments of a flight, creating a hazardous situation.

He added that lasers can cause permanent injuries or temporarily impair vision for minutes afterward, even when not viewed directly.

Pointing a laser at an aircraft is against federal and state law. Perpetrators can also face civil penalties up to $11,000.

Johnson said port police want people to call their dispatch center if they see lasers in the sky near planes. The lasers used so far this year have been green. You can call Port of Portland Police at (503) 460-4441.

Crime Stoppers is also offering a $1,000 reward for information about this case. You can report an anonymous tip by calling (503) 823-4357 or visiting the Crime Stoppers website.

Incidents of people shining lasers at planes have sharply increased in recent years. The FAA reported 283 incidents in 2005, 913 in 2008, and 2,836 in 2010.

At PDX, there were 51 reports in all of 2011, compared to 54 reports in the first six months of 2012.

The FAA instructs pilots to report any laser incidents to air traffic controllers and send a written report to federal officials.