Shocking moment green laser is aimed at plane with 200 passengers on board: Man, 53, who targeted flight on ‘critical’ descent into Bristol Airport is jailed for four months

This is the shocking moment a green laser was aimed at a plane with 200 passengers on board.

Video footage released by police shows a green laser flashing into the sky.

Andrew Wilson, 53, from Somerset, first targeted a helicopter flying over Yeovil at about 11.20pm on Thursday, August 3, 2022.

Then, at about 11.55pm on Monday, August 14, Wilson did the same to an Airbus A320 passenger plane flying over Yeovil on its descent to Bristol Airport, with almost 200 people on board.

Thankfully both aircraft were able to make a safe landing. 

One of the plane pilots stated in a personal statement read to the court that the laser attack happened during a ‘critical stage’ of the flight.

They said: ‘You can see how distractions and disturbances from laser attacks are dangerous whilst the pilots are required to be totally focused … 

‘Laser attacks on aircraft also have the ability to temporarily ‘flash blind’ … Rendering one or both pilots blind whilst they are flying is obviously extremely dangerous.’

They added that such laser attacks can lead to retina damage and long-term degradation of eyesight which could cost a pilot their career, in view of the strict medical requirements for a pilot’s licence.

Officer in the case PC Jason Marshalsea said: ‘Shining a laser beam at an aircraft is dangerous and irresponsible and could result in catastrophic consequences.

‘Wilson not only jeopardised the eyesight of several pilots, but he also unnecessarily and recklessly endangered the lives of hundreds of innocent people on those aircraft.’

Wilson was sentenced to four months imprisonment at Taunton Crown Court on April 11.

Earlier this year, in a different incident, a 60-year-old man was cautioned after shining a laser beam at a police helicopter.

While flying over Portswood, a laser was shone at the cockpit of the helicopter, which was traced back to a house in the area. 

A man was arrested for offences under the Laser Misuse Act 2018 and was taken into custody, while the laser device was seized.

The man received a conditional caution for the offence of shining or directing a laser beam towards a land or water vehicle or aircraft.

Another time, someone aimed a laser pen at an air ambulance on its way to an emergency.

The helicopter crew captured video footage of the blinding beam which dazzled the pilot as the vehicle was flying towards an incident near Attleborough, Norfolk.

This was the first time the light beam was caught on video by the ambulance service.

People who target aircraft, road vehicles, or boats risk facing a 12-month prison sentence under the Laser Misuse Act 2018.