(ESPANOLA, ON) – On August 30, 2016 at approximately 11:05 pm, members of the Espanola Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Detachment received a call about a laser being pointed at a U.S. Military Aircraft in flight at 36,000 feet. GPS coordinates showed that the aircraft was in the area of Sables-Spanish River Township.
Police is reminding the public that pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal offence and can put the pilot, crew, passengers and people on the ground at serious risk. It can distract the pilot by creating a glare that affects the vision and cause temporary blindness or worse cause a major aircraft crash.
Under the Aeronautics Act, if you are charged and convicted of pointing a laser at an aircraft, you could face up to:
$100,000 in fines
5 years in prison
Or both
The OPP is asking anyone who has information regarding this laser strike to contact the Espanola OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at www.crimestoppersdm.com – www.tipsubmit.com or call 1-800-222 TIPS (8477).