Americans are pointing lasers at planes more than ever before
Washington (AFP) - US authorities on Wednesday warned Americans to stop pointing lasers at planes after pilots reported a record number of incidents in 2023. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the latest figure of 13,304 laser strikes is a 41 percent increase over the year before and by far the highest number since data collection began -- posing a major safety threat to pilots, passengers and those on the ground. "A laser strike can temporarily blind a pilot or cause severe eye injury, and the FAA takes this threat very seriously," Administrator Michael Whitaker said in a video. "...