News
National campaign launched against pointing lasers at aircraft
June 25, 2015 By The Vancouver Sun
Russ Ballman had a jet full of passengers behind him and was in his final approach to YVR when a laser pointer hit him square in the left eye on May 12, 2014.
“Immediately I recognized that this was not just an ordinary light. This thing had some true intensity,” the Air Canada captain recalled.
Ballman warned his first officer to get his head down below the windshield, but it was too late — the next flash hit the other man in both eyes. A few seconds later, a third strike filled the cockpit with light.
“It was not a comfortable feeling” having both pilots temporarily blinded, Ballman said. They put the plane on autopilot and circled the airport until they finally felt comfortable enough to land. | READ MORE
