Pointing a laser pen at the sky might seem harmless, but it can be extremely dangerous: distracting and even blinding pilots. Since 2010 laser strikes have plagued US aircraft, with experts chalking up the problem to easily available cheap laser pens, and people either not knowing or not caring about the risks it entails. Though thankfully these types of incidents haven’t caused any crashes, the FAA says pilots have reported 328 injuries since it started tracking the number in 2010.
But the good news is that laser strikes against aircraft are down again this year, for the third time running, falling 24 percent year-on-year to 4,470 through July 2026 according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
This represents a huge decrease compared to 2023’s all-time high of 13,304. The FAA chalked up the recent improvements to its ongoing outreach and training with local, state, and federal law enforcement. California recorded the most incidents overall with 614, while Texas recorded 445. Per capita Hawaii was the worst impacted state, with 5.09 incidents per 100,000 people, followed by New Mexico and Colorado.
The FAA reminds the public about the dangers of holiday laser-light displays ahead of the upcoming holiday season.
“The concentrated laser beams reach much farther than homeowners may realize and have the potential of distracting or temporarily blinding pilots,” read the announcement.
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Pointing lasers at an aircraft is a serious federal crime. The FAA imposes fines of up to $11,000 for a single violation and up to $30,800 for multiple violations. Meanwhile, what it calls severe violations can result in up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, alongside additional state and local penalties.
The FAA encourages people to report all incidents to [email protected], or local law enforcement, with your name, contact information, and the date, time, location, and description of the incident.
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