A man has been arrested following a reckless incident where a green laser was repeatedly aimed at an active police helicopter, prompting authorities to label the act as “incredibly dangerous”.
The uk/national-news-uk/" title="National News Uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-wpil-monitor-id="5144">National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter crew was conducting operations over Beckton on the night of April 7 when they became the target of a green laser. The disturbing incident unfolded between 10:28 p.m. and 10:50 p.m., posing a serious risk to the crew’s safety and individuals on the ground.
Upon being notified of the ongoing laser targeting, Metropolitan Police officers swiftly mobilized to locate and apprehend the perpetrator. The suspect was subsequently found and arrested by the authorities.
Captain Paul Watts, who heads NPAS flight operations, condemned the actions of those who engage in such dangerous behaviour. Distracting a pilot whilst in flight is incredibly dangerous and is a serious risk not just to the crew but to people on the ground,” he emphasized. It also takes the crew away from the purpose of the flight, which could be searching for a missing and vulnerable person, or helping apprehend a dangerous driver or suspect.
Highlighting the capabilities of NPAS aircraft, Captain Watts underscored that their sophisticated mapping and camera equipment enables them to swiftly identify the location of offenders. We will pursue action against offenders and will always support prosecution, which can lead to imprisonment,” he affirmed.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by laser targeting of aircraft and reinforces the commitment of law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of aircrew and the public alike.
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