Rhineland-Palatinate: Laser attacks on US fighter jets – police investigate

Trier – Unknown people have repeatedly blinded fighter jet pilots with a laser beam at the US military air base at Spangdahlem in Rhineland-Palatinate. The Trier criminal police are investigating a total of three cases on suspicion of dangerous interference with air traffic, the authority said.

In all cases, the American pilots of the F-16 fighter jets were on the landing approach a few kilometers from the air base when previously unknown persons targeted the aircraft with a blue laser beam. The blinding tests took place on December 2nd and 9th between 8 and 8:30 p.m.

There are high penalties for laser attacks

In all known cases, the pilots were able to land unscathed, said the police with. Such laser attacks could cause severe impairment, temporary visual impairment or eye injury to the pilot. “They therefore pose a high risk potential,” it said.

The perpetrators have not yet been identified. The motive for the attacks is also still unclear. Dangerous interference with air traffic is normally punished with at least six months in prison, and in less serious cases with at least three months.