Virgin Atlantic flight from London to NY returns after pilot hurt in laser incident

[DaveReidUK]

Sentencing him today

To 20 weeks in prison, if anyone was wondering.

[Hotel Tango]

....and probably out after 10 weeks, if that!

[aerolearner]

A judge with a sense of irony...

Sentencing him today, Judge Marcus Tregilgas Davey said: “ [...] The seriousness of this offence is blindingly obvious."

[c_coder]

After similar problems in Australia lasers with power >1mW were basically banned.

A vendor at a Melbourne swap meet was selling 100AUD l@sers which could deliver about as much concentrated heat as a magnifying glass on a sunny day.

Note that these devices had a focus adjustment so you could control the beam width.

[etudiant]

International rules are very different. US retailers are prohibited from offering lasers with over 5 milliwatts of power, but it is easy to mail order something vastly more powerful from abroad, such as a full Class 3B laser for about $20.

Idiots can get blinding lasers very easily, because the gear trades very freely and a foreign seller only needs to comply with his country's minimal restrictions

[Alanwsg]

Intent is no longer required.

From 'The Register' ...
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/05/11/laser_misuse_act_5_year_sentences/

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Should be ten years.