The safety fears today prompted the organisation to issue a plea to the public to report anyone seen shining the laser devices into the sky following a spate of attacks around Heathrow – three in a single evening last week.
Capt Bob Jones, Head of Flight Operations at the CAA, said shining lasers at aircraft was a criminal act that posed a serious risk to safety at critical times of takeoff and landing.
He added: “Anyone who witnesses a laser being shone at an aircraft should contact the police immediately just as they would any other criminal act.
“Lasers pose a critical risk to flight safety, but the chances of getting caught are increasingly rapidly and once caught criminal charges are inevitable.”
Capt Jones said that the malicious use of lasers had not been restricted to the UK, with several incidents reported around the USA, Australia and Canada.
The CAA is now encouraging the aviation industry to pull together and report any sightings to police air support units so they can dealt with immediately.
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