A , Boston , person has been arrested for reportedly aiming a light at a , Coast Guard , plane that was trying to land at , Massachusetts General Hospital, according to the government.
The high-powered laser pointer, which was attempting to land on a teaching vision, was allegedly aimed at the military helicopter by Philip Gagnon, 59. The captain ended up aborting the doctor landing because of the light beam, the , U. S.  , Attorney’s Office said.
Gagnon has been arrested and legally indicted on one count of aiming a light marker at the , Coast Guard , plane on , Sept. 21, 2023.
Coast Guard , plane 6039 that night was trying to land at , Massachusetts General Hospital , as part of a regular training vision with four staff people on board.
As the plane descended toward the doctor, Gagnon reportedly “aimed a higher- driven green laser beam at the helicopter from inside his apartment”, the , U. S.  , Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
” The light beam supposedly illuminated the side of the aircraft and shone through the pilot’s skylights”, the government added. ” In answer, the captain aborted the MGH getting and flew north for several miles, finally landing at another , Boston , place hospital”.
Gagnon, who lives on the third floor of a housing advanced close to MGH, has a view of a flight way frequently used by aircraft landing at the hospital, the indictment reads.
Gagnon was released on situations following an initial look in , Boston , national court on Monday.
The cost of aiming a light cursor at an aeroplane can lead to a statement of up to 5 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a$ 250, 000 good.
A federal district court determine decides words based on the words that are commuted in a legal case based on the guidelines for the U.S., Sentencing Guidelines, and regulations.
Last month,  , aircraft reported 13, 304 light strikes to the , FAA, as light situations continue to stay at higher amounts. The full of 13, 304 reported light strikes was a 41 % rise from the 9, 457 reported light cuts in 2022.
” Laser strikes on aircraft remain a serious risk to aviation safety”, the , FAA , said in a statement posted with the information. ” Unintentionally aiming lasers at planes poses a health risk to planes and is against federal law. Some high-powered lasers have the ability to subdue pilots of plane that may be carrying lots of passengers.
” The , FAA , works closely with national, state and local law enforcement agencies to pursue civil and criminal sanctions against individuals who actively aim a light at an airplane,” the FAA’s website reads.
The , FAA , issued$ 120, 000 in charges for light cuts in 2021.
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