01-10-2007
Laser prank grounds copter
A young man who aimed a laser beam at a police helicopter triggered a major alert in the capital.
The pilot took immediate evasive action. And he gave the exact location of the source of the beam to colleagues at the Abu Dhabi force’s operations room.
The airman, who was on a routine patrol, told officers he feared the laser could have endangered his flight.
The CID sent a team to a villa that the pilot had pinpointed and the building was surrounded.
Officers quizzed members of the UAE national family, including children. Soon it became clear that a 21-yearold male member of the family had been playing with a laser pointer, used during presentations, on the rooftop. He had pointed the beam at a number of objects – including the police heli copter. “At first he denied using a laser pen and aiming it at the helicopter,” said a police spokesman. “But after questioning he admitted and handed over the pen, which was confiscated.” The young man was not named and the family promised officers the incident would not be repeated.
“He also made a pledge that it would not happen again and said the incident had been a good lesson for him,” added the spokesman.
Major Salem Al Ka’abi, who led the CID team, said: “People should be aware that the misuse of laser pointers can cause accidents and is dangerous.
“It is particularly dangerous to aim a laser at an aircraft during flight. It could divert the attention of the pilot or make him believe the aircraft was being targeted with some kind of sophisticated weapon.
“It is also dangerous to aim a laser pen at human eyes. Many children do that and parents should advise their children against this as it can damage eyesight.” Al Ka’abi said the misuse of laser pointers was against the law and the devices should be used only for their intended purpose.
Cheap versions of laser pens are easily available across the country. They are even sold to children in grocery shops. Laser pens are very cheap – with some costing just Dh1.
