VS025 returns to LHR after take-off due to "laser strike"

Just caught the tale end of a Sky news report that the VS 25 heading to JFK tonight has had to return to Heathrow after some kind of incident where a laser beam was pointed at the cockpit and may have affected one of the pilots. What a kind of irresponsible moron woukd do that.

Ooer! Looks like everyone is ok, but I can't find any detailed info yet, such as the source of the laser beam, i.e. from inside or outside of aircraft.

Seems the only place for any info at the moment is on Sky.com (news)

What kind of irresponsible moron would do that.

The kind of irresponsible moron (though I'd use a stronger term) that flies drones near Heathrow or fires air rifles at pets.

BBC News also reporting it. Happened more than 1400 times in 2014 apparently so by no means a rare occurrence sadly - although it is rare for a flight to have to turn back.

This does happen with regular frequency and I hope more is done to identify and punish the culprits.

One of them was caught last year:

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/oct/22/cardiff-man-jailed-for-shining-laser-pen-at-planes

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35575861

Re-assuring that they took this course of action, IMO. I'm sure some may have just soldiered on.

Being discussed here: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=292288

The audio of the pilots talking to Shanwick ATC can be listened to here:
airportwebcams.net/VS25B.mp3

The incident happened about 6 miles out of LHR, the first officer was affected by the laser but not the captain, it would appear they elected to continue towards the North Atlantic Tracks however when it was go/no go for flying the Atlantic they had decided that the FO had not sufficiently recovered to continue.

That would be the same irresponsible morons whose first thought when seeing an accident or similar is to get their phones out and post it to social media.

I hope the pilot has fully recovered

What kind of irresponsible moron would do that.

The kind of irresponsible moron (though I'd use a stronger term) that flies drones near Heathrow or fires air rifles at pets.

BBC News also reporting it. Happened more than 1400 times in 2014 apparently so by no means a rare occurrence sadly - although it is rare for a flight to have to turn back.

I genuinely cant understand why someone would think to do that kind of thing. but also amazed that a laser pen would be able to reach that far.

I just got the below alert from TVP as subscribe to their updates

"Yesterday 15th February at 22:17 coming from an area south of Woodley near to the motorway, a laser strike on aircraft at 10,000ft was reported from National Air traffic control at Swanwick near Southampton. Two aircraft were involved in the laser strike.

A number of high-power laser pointers are available over the internet and these devices are extremely dangerous and not suitable for sale to the public.

Back in 2010 a new law was introduced to stop laser beams being shone at aircraft and offenders can be charged with endangering the safety of aircraft by “shining a light at an aircraft in flight so as to dazzle or distract the pilot”.

If you are aware of anyone who maybe misusing a laser pointer you can either ring the police on 101 or you may prefer to ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

[Nottingham Nick]

Two topics about same subject merged by mod ...... Nick

I genuinely cant understand why someone would think to do that kind of thing. but also amazed that a laser pen would be able to reach that far.

It's not a laser pen (class 1 device) it's something much larger maybe a class 2 or 3. What it shows is a certain degree of pre-meditation, this is not something that can be easy carried about in your pocket.

We have just had one of these idiots sucessfully prosecuted and jailed here in Humberside; he picked the wrong victim though, the local police helecopter.

I posted in a thread on FlyerTalk where I did the maths to show the power of the device required to achieve this type of attack. (Nick - where did it go? I can't find it now)

Suffice to say I recall that the outcome was something in the region of 300W at 0.5 miliradians would give a 50/50 chance of, "a minimally detectable injury to an eye".

Whatever was used, it was no laser pointer!

Stuart - it's here

Would the delay caused to the flight not be applicable for compensation?

I imagine it wouldn't be eligible. I can't recall the correct phrasing but it'd likely fall into the category of "things the airline can't be held responsible for".

Indeed. An act of crime or sabotage that impacts on the operation of a flight is classed as an extraordinary circumstance that exempts an airline from having to pay compensation, as is a diversion caused by a crew member or passenger becoming seriously ill. Both of which, VS would no doubt argue, apply in this case.

Makes sense to me. Thank you