Laser dazzling over Graz: Crew of a training flight attacked during landing approach

Crew's reaction

According to police, the flight instructor and the two student pilots reacted calmly and prudently and were able to continue the flight safely. The training flight was completed in a southerly direction without further incidents. No persons were harmed.

Austro Control filed criminal charges with police due to the severity of the incident. The Austrian aviation authority classifies the incident as a dangerous interference with air traffic. A search for the previously unknown perpetrators in the Graz city center area was unsuccessful, according to police.

Criminal consequences

Police pointed out in a statement that the deliberate illumination of aircraft with a laser pointer can have serious consequences. Even a brief dazzling can put the crew — and in serious cases also passengers — in considerable danger. In such a situation, pilots risk losing orientation or being unable to read instruments correctly.

Under Austrian criminal law, dazzling an aircraft with a laser pointer is punishable by a prison sentence of one to ten years. If the act also results in serious consequences, the penalties can be even higher.

Public tips requested

The authorities are asking the public for tips from the Graz city center area that could lead to the identification of the perpetrators. Concrete investigative leads were not initially made public.

Incidents involving laser pointers aimed at aircraft have been a recurring problem in Austria and other European countries for years. Authorities and aviation organizations regularly conduct awareness campaigns to highlight the dangers of such blinding attacks.