An investigation was initiated last week following reports that an American Airlines plane observed an unusual blue light while getting ready to land.
This event happened during the early hours of Thursday, January 29, as the flight was approaching Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina. The aircraft had taken off from Charleston, South Carolina, according to a statement from American Airlines.
Fortunately, the plane landed without any incidents, and no injuries were reported. The airline noted that the crew had, out of caution, categorized the sighting as a “laser phenomenon.”
American Airlines highlighted that its pilots are trained to handle potential laser exposure situations and are required to report them right away. This information is shared with air traffic control, and then it gets passed along to law enforcement for further investigation.
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced that it is looking into the matter. The agency reported that pilots recorded approximately 11,000 laser strikes in 2025 alone, with 10 of those leading to reported injuries.
Federal officials have frequently warned about the serious safety risks posed by laser strikes on aircraft, particularly during takeoff and landing. They emphasized that while laser pointers might seem harmless—often perceived as toys or office tools—the reality is quite different. The FAA remarked, “Lasers can incapacitate pilots and endanger thousands of passengers each year.”
Anyone found shining a laser at an aircraft could face significant penalties. The FAA stated that violators could incur fines of up to $32,000 for each offense and may even face criminal charges under federal law.
In a related note, the FAA is currently investigating a similar occurrence from 2025 when a crew aboard a National Guard Black Hawk helicopter reported being targeted by a green laser near Hector International Airport in North Dakota. Thankfully, that incident also resulted in no injuries.
