Law Enforcement and Prosecutors Hold Offenders Accountable
The Chicago Field Office of the FBI—along with local, state, and federal law enforcement; regulatory; and prosecutorial partners—are instructing the public to keep laser pointers out of the sky.
When someone intentionally interferes with a law enforcement or medical helicopter that is responding to an emergency or transporting patients, they endanger the crew and jeopardize everyone depending on that aircraft to do its job. Our agencies are committed to ensuring that the skies are safe for pilots, crew members, passengers, and everyone on the ground.
There has been a significant and dangerous increase in laser strike events over the past two years in the Chicagoland area, which is why the FBI and partners are working closely with prosecutors to bring offenders to justice. Laser beams can temporarily blind and disorient the pilot, potentially causing a fatal crash. Laser strikes not only affect helicopter pilots, but also pilots flying both small planes and large commercial aircraft. Pointing a laser is a direct threat to the safety of the pilot, the passengers and everyone on the ground below.
“The FBI has zero tolerance for anyone who is unlawfully using lasers and attempting to put lives at risk on the ground or in the sky,” said FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Ryan Whalen. “We are proud to work with our dedicated partners to ensure that criminals are quickly apprehended and held fully accountable under the federal felony statutes.”
“Targeting aircraft with a laser pointer creates a safety threat that puts the lives of everyone on that plane, and people on the ground, at risk,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly. “Despite being difficult to track, ISP successfully made an arrest in connection with an aircraft being targeted with a laser pointer in 2023 and we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring those committing these dangerous acts to justice.”
Since 2012, federal statute has made it a felony to aim a laser pointer at any aircraft. It is illegal for people to aim a laser pointer’s beam at an aircraft—whether private, commercial, or military—or in its flight path. Criminals can be fined up to $250,000 and/or a federal prison sentence of up to five years. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may also impose civil penalties of up to $11,000 each time someone aims a laser beam at an aircraft.
If you spot someone unlawfully aiming a laser at an aircraft in the sky, report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or visiting tips.fbi.gov. Tips can remain anonymous.