Laser Pointed at Texas Airmedical Helicopter, Police Helicopters

Jan. 16--FORT WORTH -- Two men are suspected of pointing a laser at an ambulance helicopter on its way back to a local hospital Thursday night.

A pilot of a police helicopter, which was sent out investigate the incident, also reported being hit by a laser.

No injuries were reported.

Police later located two men in the 1300 block of E. Jefferson Avenue, and one of them admitted to officers that he had pointed the laser at the pilots.

The incident began shortly before 8 p.m. Thursday when a Careflite pilot reported that he had been hit by a laser as he headed back to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth.

Authorities alerted Fort Worth police who launched Air One, the department's police helicopter to investigate.

Air One later located the two men in a front yard on E. Jefferson Avenue and also reported being hit by the laser, said Officer Natosha Tucker in a Friday email.

Air One kept the men under surveillance until officers arrived, Tucker said.

"One of the men admitted to pointing it at the helicopters," Tucker said.

On the recommendation of FBI officials, the men were not arrested, but listed as suspects in the incident.

Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a violation of federal laws.

FBI officials have said that when aimed at an aircraft from the ground, the powerful beam of light from a hand held laser can travel more than a mile and illuminate a cockpit, disorienting and temporarily blinding pilots. Those who have been subject to such attacks have described them as the equivalent of a camera flash going off in a pitch black car at night.

In 2013, there were 3,960 laser strikes against aircraft, an average of almost 11 incidents per day, according to the FBI.

Domingo Ramirez Jr., 817-390-7763

Twitter: @mingoramirezjr

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