Indiana ranked 8thhighest for laser strikes on pilots
Mar 26, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Pilots reported 12,840 laser strikes to the Federal Aviation Administration in 2024, marking a slight 3% decrease from the previous year.
Despite this drop, aviation safety officials emphasize that the numbers remain dangerously high.
Shining a laser at an aircraft
is not only a serious safety threat, but also a federal crime. The bright light emitted from a laser can temporarily blind or disorient pilots, jeopardizing their ability to control an aircraft — often one carrying hundreds of passengers. Since the FAA began tracking laser strike incidents in 2010, there have been 328 reported injuries caused by such attacks.
According to the FAA, certain states saw the highest number of laser strikes last year. California led the nation with 1,489 incidents, followed by Texas with 1,463, and Florida with 810. Other states with notable numbers included Tennessee , Illinois, and Indiana.
States with the highest laser strike reports in 2024
California: 1,489.
Texas: 1,463.
Florida: 810.
Tennessee: 649.
Illinois: 622.
Arizona: 550.
New York: 531.
Indiana: 512.
Georgia: 416.
Virginia: 415.
People convicted of engaging in the dangerous behavior can face severe penalties. The FAA imposes fines of up to $11,000 per laser strike violation. For multiple incidents, fines can reach as high as $30,800. Offenders could also face federal criminal charges, including up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, in addition to potential state and local penalties.
The FAA has made laser strike data from 2010 to present publicly available through its visualization tool, which highlights trends by geographic area, time of day, and year. The tool is intended to draw attention to the high number of laser strikes and help identify patterns to improve prevention efforts.
In its efforts to curb laser strikes, the FAA strongly encourages the public to report them to both the FAA and local law enforcement authorities.
For more information or to report an incident, individuals are urged to visit the FAA’s official website.
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