People in high places want to know who pointed a laser beam at Air Canada Flight 372 last Friday night as it passed over Guelph. The Guelph Police, Pearson International Airport, and Transport Canada all want to find out who is responsible.
Guelph Police received a call at around 10:50 p.m. on May 6 from the Air Traffic Control Centre at Pearson International. The Air Canada flight was making its descent. The airplane was at an altitude of about 7,000 over the south end of Guelph when a blue laser beam was pointed at the aircraft, according to a police report.
The light emanated from Clair Road East and Gordon Street area of the city. The area was searched but the person responsible was not located.
Transport Canada issued a statement Monday, saying that the number of incidents involving lasers being pointed at aircraft has been increasing. There were 502 such incidents in 2014, and 590 in 2015.
The federal ministry stated that Canadian Aviation Regulations make it against the law to point bright lights into airspace, since it “poses a serious risk to pilots, passengers, and aviation safety.”
A person convicted of pointing a laser into an aircraft cockpit can face a fine of up to $100,000, a five-year prison term, or both.
A national safety campaign was launched in 2015 on the issue, in an effort to make Canadians aware of the risks and consequences of pointing a laser at an aircraft, and to encourage pilots and the public to report such laser strikes, Transport Canada stated.
Two videos were produced as part of the campaign, available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTJ1HFHqfSk and www.youtube.com/watch?v=84nOZK1YhuU.
Anyone with information about the Guelph incident is asked to contact Const. M. Braga at 519-824-1212, ext. 7144, or at [email protected].
Anonymous tips can be left at Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.csgw.tips.
