Passenger captures terrifying moment when a laser targets a plane over Melbourne!
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Just when you think you've heard it all, you come across something like this.
It was just another regular flight for one traveller until he noticed something alarming in the night sky over Melbourne that spurred him to share the harrowing experience online.
The airline passenger had unknowingly become a witness to a crime committed by someone pointing a laser at the plane he was on, and the footage he captured was enough to make anyone’s stomach turn.
'Was travelling back last night and noticed someone shooting [a] laser at our flight. Just wondering if this is illegal in Australia?' the passenger posted on social media.
The video he shared shows a bright green beam of light aimed directly at the aircraft as it flies through the night sky.
Thankfully the plane was unharmed, but the consequences of such an act could have been catastrophic.
In case you were wondering, pointing a laser at an aircraft in any form is a serious offence in Australia, attracting severe penalties.
Responding to the incident, a spokesperson from Victoria Police confirmed to Yahoo News that such actions are not just 'mischievous' but can actually be slapped with serious charges.
These include interfering with a crew member in an aircraft, reckless conduct risking life, and possession of a prohibited weapon.
The Civil Aviation and Safety Authority of Australia (CASA) stressed the dangers posed by such an irresponsible act.
'Pointing a laser at an aircraft poses a serious threat that can incapacitate pilots, putting passengers at risk,' a CASA spokesperson explained the gravity of the situation.
According to CASA's safety guidelines, laser beams have such intensity that they can cause permanent injury, especially to the eye retinas–even at a staggering distance of over 10 kilometres!
To highlight the gravity of the situation, CASA recently reported an Adelaide man, Shannon Glomb, narrowly escaped a jail term for pointing a high-powered laser at a police helicopter in December 2022.
The 36-year-old had purchased the device off eBay to play with his cat, but he ended up shining it at the wrong target while drunk.
The 36-year-old Mr Glomb avoided jail, ending up with a 12-month suspended sentence, a six-month non-parole period, and a hefty $1000 bond for good behaviour over two years.
As a point of reference, the offence carries a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment in South Australia.
'Your offence, with the potentially catastrophic effect it could have had on many people's lives, is to be characterised as an offence of potentially lethal stupidity,' Magistrate Karim Soetratma aptly summed it up.
If you're ever on a flight and witness such a thing, immediately alert the cabin crew.
And if you come across unusual incidents, don’t hesitate to share. Your story could potentially save a life!
For now, safe travels, and keep an eye out for those lasers!
Have you ever witnessed something unusual on a flight? What would you have done if you were in the passenger’s position? We want to hear your opinion on this matter in the comments below!
It was just another regular flight for one traveller until he noticed something alarming in the night sky over Melbourne that spurred him to share the harrowing experience online.
The airline passenger had unknowingly become a witness to a crime committed by someone pointing a laser at the plane he was on, and the footage he captured was enough to make anyone’s stomach turn.
A traveller filmed a laser beam shining directly at the aircraft he was on. Credit: Reddit
'Was travelling back last night and noticed someone shooting [a] laser at our flight. Just wondering if this is illegal in Australia?' the passenger posted on social media.
The video he shared shows a bright green beam of light aimed directly at the aircraft as it flies through the night sky.
Thankfully the plane was unharmed, but the consequences of such an act could have been catastrophic.
In case you were wondering, pointing a laser at an aircraft in any form is a serious offence in Australia, attracting severe penalties.
Responding to the incident, a spokesperson from Victoria Police confirmed to Yahoo News that such actions are not just 'mischievous' but can actually be slapped with serious charges.
These include interfering with a crew member in an aircraft, reckless conduct risking life, and possession of a prohibited weapon.
The CASA warns civilians of the dangers pointing lasers at an aircraft can cause. Credit: Shutterstock
The Civil Aviation and Safety Authority of Australia (CASA) stressed the dangers posed by such an irresponsible act.
'Pointing a laser at an aircraft poses a serious threat that can incapacitate pilots, putting passengers at risk,' a CASA spokesperson explained the gravity of the situation.
According to CASA's safety guidelines, laser beams have such intensity that they can cause permanent injury, especially to the eye retinas–even at a staggering distance of over 10 kilometres!
To highlight the gravity of the situation, CASA recently reported an Adelaide man, Shannon Glomb, narrowly escaped a jail term for pointing a high-powered laser at a police helicopter in December 2022.
The 36-year-old had purchased the device off eBay to play with his cat, but he ended up shining it at the wrong target while drunk.
Shannon Glomb explained that he purchased a laser off of eBay to entertain his cat. Credit: Shutterstock
The 36-year-old Mr Glomb avoided jail, ending up with a 12-month suspended sentence, a six-month non-parole period, and a hefty $1000 bond for good behaviour over two years.
As a point of reference, the offence carries a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment in South Australia.
'Your offence, with the potentially catastrophic effect it could have had on many people's lives, is to be characterised as an offence of potentially lethal stupidity,' Magistrate Karim Soetratma aptly summed it up.
If you're ever on a flight and witness such a thing, immediately alert the cabin crew.
And if you come across unusual incidents, don’t hesitate to share. Your story could potentially save a life!
For now, safe travels, and keep an eye out for those lasers!
Have you ever witnessed something unusual on a flight? What would you have done if you were in the passenger’s position? We want to hear your opinion on this matter in the comments below!
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