The number of reported laser strikes on aircraft has spiked in recent years, according to data from the Federal Aviation Administration.A Hearst Television Data Team analysis of reports since 2021 showed the number of laser strikes on aircraft jumped to 13,304 in 2023, a more than 40% jump from 2022. The number of reported incidents, while not as high, was still up in 2024. "While that is a 3% decrease from 2023, the numbers are still too high," said a March news release from the FAA.So far in 2025, the number of total reported incidents through May is already on track to be as high as the past two years.The increase may be attributed to the fact that laser pointers are getting less expensive and more accessible, said Patrick Murphy, who runs the website LaserPointerSafety.com, an independent website dedicated to educating people on safe laser use. Murphy is also a member of the SAE G10T Laser Hazards Subcommittee which researches lasers in airspace and makes recommendations that are often adopted by organizations like the FAA.“I think the word just has not gotten out to people that it is hazardous,” Murphy said.Lasers do have a variety of purposes. In general, they are used for things like astronomy, remote sensing of chemicals and more.“The real problem though is with ordinary individuals with laser pointers who are misusing them,” Murphy said.Lasers are a danger to pilots, not because of injury, but because they can obstruct a pilot’s vision — especially during landing. So far, there haven’t been any accidents, Murphy said. Pilots may feel unsafe landing, though, and have to go back around to land when their vision is cleared.“But we're really worried about what happens in an emergency situation, some other situation where the pilot can't see and they're trying to do something very tricky,” Murphy said. Data for 2025 spans January through the end of May, but incidents so far have already surpassed what they were at the same point in time in 2021, 2022 and 2023. By the end of May 2024, there were 5,189 reported incidents and in 2025 there have been 4,497.Where laser strike incidents are reportedData from the FAA also breaks down incidents by the nearest air traffic control center the incident was reported to.For 2024, New Mexico had the highest rate of laser incidents reported to airport control towers out of U.S. states with 4.5 per 100,000 people. There were a total of 95 incidents for the year.Behind it are Kentucky at 4.4 and Indiana at 4.3.The analysis of U.S. states plus D.C. included incidents reported at an air traffic control tower at an airport or a tower that also houses a TRACON, or Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility. The data for incidents reported to airports accounts for a little under half of the total laser incidents. Data for Washington, D.C. includes Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which is technically located in Virginia.Incidents not included in the state analysis were those reported to Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) and standalone TRACONs. ARTCCs are large regions covering multiple states and typically handle high altitude traffic between destinations. TRACONs cover airspace surrounding multiple busy airports below 20,000 feet and within 30 to 50 miles of an airport.The Hearst Television Data Team also identified the 20 busiest airports by departures in 2024 from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and found the Charlotte Douglas International airport had the highest rate of laser incidents at 4.9 per 10,000 departures. Departure data includes aircraft carrying passengers, cargo or mail. The analysis excluded U.S. territories and only included U.S. air carriers.The busiest airport in the U.S., Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, had a rate of 0.3 laser incidents per 10,000 departures in 2024 — the lowest out of the 20 busiest airports.Penalties and preventionA laser pointer incident includes strikes reported by pilots to the FAA. It is a federal crime, and people can face up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. The FAA may also fine up to $11,000 or $30,800 for multiple incidents.But very few people are caught.Out of more than 17,700 incidents reported from 2005 to 2013, just 134 people were arrested and 80 of those were convicted, according to data on LaserPointerSafety.com from Ars Technica. Some common proposals to reduce incidents from people are to have pilots wear glasses or ban laser pointers altogether. However, glasses would make it hard to see and bans in other countries show the opposite effect."They actually did this in some countries, including Australia, and the rate of people aiming at aircraft actually went up after that," Murphy said. Even the low-powered laser pointers like ones made for pets are still a risk. These pointers can distract a pilot up to two miles away, threatening more helicopters and pilots that are landing.Murphy's work on committees like the SAE G10T Laser Hazards Subcommittee focuses on making recommendations to lower the number of laser strike incidents. One way they are doing so is by better informing pilots on how to recover from laser strikes. PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
The number of reported laser strikes on aircraft has spiked in recent years, according to data from the Federal Aviation Administration.
A Hearst Television Data Team analysis of reports since 2021 showed the number of laser strikes on aircraft jumped to 13,304 in 2023, a more than 40% jump from 2022.
The number of reported incidents, while not as high, was still up in 2024.
"While that is a 3% decrease from 2023, the numbers are still too high," said a from the FAA.
So far in 2025, the number of total reported incidents through May is already on track to be as high as the past two years.
The increase may be attributed to the fact that laser pointers are getting less expensive and more accessible, said Patrick Murphy, who runs the website , an independent website dedicated to educating people on safe laser use.
Murphy is also a member of the which researches lasers in airspace and makes recommendations that are often adopted by organizations like the FAA.
“I think the word just has not gotten out to people that it is hazardous,” Murphy said.
Lasers do have a variety of purposes. In general, they are used for things like astronomy, remote sensing of chemicals and more.
“The real problem though is with ordinary individuals with laser pointers who are misusing them,” Murphy said.
Lasers are a danger to pilots, not because of injury, but because they can obstruct a pilot’s vision — especially during landing.
So far, there haven’t been any accidents, Murphy said. Pilots may feel unsafe landing, though, and have to go back around to land when their vision is cleared.
“But we're really worried about what happens in an emergency situation, some other situation where the pilot can't see and they're trying to do something very tricky,” Murphy said.
Data for 2025 spans January through the end of May, but incidents so far have already surpassed what they were at the same point in time in 2021, 2022 and 2023. By the end of May 2024, there were 5,189 reported incidents and in 2025 there have been 4,497.
Where laser strike incidents are reported
Data from the FAA also breaks down incidents by the nearest air traffic control center the incident was reported to.
For 2024, New Mexico had the highest rate of laser incidents reported to airport control towers out of U.S. states with 4.5 per 100,000 people. There were a total of 95 incidents for the year.
Behind it are Kentucky at 4.4 and Indiana at 4.3.
The analysis of U.S. states plus D.C. included incidents reported at an air traffic control tower at an airport or a tower that also houses a TRACON, or Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility. The data for incidents reported to airports accounts for a little under half of the total laser incidents. Data for Washington, D.C. includes Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, which is technically located in Virginia.
Incidents not included in the state analysis were those reported to Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) and standalone TRACONs. ARTCCs are large regions covering multiple states and typically handle high altitude traffic between destinations. TRACONs cover airspace surrounding multiple busy airports below of an airport.
The Hearst Television Data Team also identified the 20 busiest airports by departures in 2024 from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and found the Charlotte Douglas International airport had the highest rate of laser incidents at 4.9 per 10,000 departures.
Departure data includes aircraft carrying passengers, cargo or mail. The analysis excluded U.S. territories and only included U.S. air carriers.
The busiest airport in the U.S., Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, had a rate of 0.3 laser incidents per 10,000 departures in 2024 — the lowest out of the 20 busiest airports.
Penalties and prevention
A laser pointer incident includes strikes reported by pilots to the FAA. It is a federal crime, and people can face up to five years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine. The FAA may also fine up to $11,000 or $30,800 for multiple incidents.
But very few people are caught.
Out of more than 17,700 incidents reported from 2005 to 2013, just 134 people were arrested and 80 of those were convicted, according to data on .
Some common proposals to reduce incidents from people are to have pilots wear glasses or ban laser pointers altogether. However, glasses would make it hard to see and bans in other countries show the opposite effect.
"They actually did this in some countries, including Australia, and the rate of people aiming at aircraft actually went up after that," Murphy said.
Even the low-powered laser pointers like ones made for pets are still a risk. These pointers can distract a pilot up to two miles away, threatening more helicopters and pilots that are landing.
Murphy's work on committees like the focuses on making recommendations to lower the number of laser strike incidents. One way they are doing so is by better informing pilots on how to recover from laser strikes.
