Penalties for Pointing a Laser into a Cockpit

On June 2011, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced it would begin to impose civil penalties against people who point a laser into the cockpit of aircraft. Civil penalties imposed can be of up to $11,000 per violation.

Laser strikes continue to stay at high levels with pilots reporting nearly 9,500 laser strikes to the FAA in 2022, despite the fact that the FAA has imposed civil penalties up to $30,800 against people for multiple laser incidents.

The FAA remains vigilant in its campaign to heighten public awareness because laser strikes on aircraft remain a serious threat to aviation safety. Many high-powered lasers can incapacitate pilots flying aircraft that may be carrying hundreds of passengers.

Intentionally aiming lasers at aircrafts poses a safety threat to pilots and violates federal law.