Here's a couple of posts off another board from a few days before the incident. These folks are laser "hobbyists" and one of them was bragging about "dotting" aircraft with an illegal (i.e. > 5mw) laser.
Posted September 18:
>>While I'm sure that looked really cool, please be careful about dotting airplanes. That could make the gummint really angry...<<
>>yes, i know...but i probably wont do it again...i just wanted to see if my laser was actually capable of dotting an airplane, like many people advertise. and, now i know that it's possible...i no longer need to prove anything.<<
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/ubb...=365&fpart=all
A few somewhat more incriminating posts were removed earlier by the Candlepower Forums moderator.
These high power lasers are quite easy to buy online, for example:
"Hand held battery system up to 200 milliwatts of continuous optical power. Use for serious special effects star pointing, optical intimidation and experimentation. Includes a colliminator for ultra long range effect."
from:
http://www.amazing1.com/green-lasers.htm
"Build a burning laser system using our sealed CO2 laser tube with special cooling. High efficiency current controlled power supply delivers over 100 watts of power to this directed energy beam device. Excellent demonstration of future weapons technology."
"Not only is the device a workhorse in welding, cutting and heat processing materials but it also is a likely candidate as an effective directed energy beam weapon against missiles, aircraft, ground-to- ground, etc..."
from:
http://www.amazing1.com/burning-lasers.htm