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| Virgin Atlantic flight back in UK after 'laser incident' | Virgin Atlantic flight back in UK after 'laser incident' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A flight heading to New York turned back to London Heathrow Airport after a "laser beam incident", Virgin Atlantic has confirmed. | A flight heading to New York turned back to London Heathrow Airport after a "laser beam incident", Virgin Atlantic has confirmed. |
| A crew member is recorded saying to Irish air traffic control that they had a "medical issue with one of the pilots after a laser incident after take-off". | A crew member is recorded saying to Irish air traffic control that they had a "medical issue with one of the pilots after a laser incident after take-off". |
| It happened at 20:13 GMT, shortly after take-off, the company said, before flight VS025 returned as a precaution. | It happened at 20:13 GMT, shortly after take-off, the company said, before flight VS025 returned as a precaution. |
| There were 252 passengers and 15 crew on board. | There were 252 passengers and 15 crew on board. |
| Metropolitan Police tweeted: "Aircraft forced to return to Heathrow after being hit by a laser strike... #laserstrike CAD4." | Metropolitan Police tweeted: "Aircraft forced to return to Heathrow after being hit by a laser strike... #laserstrike CAD4." |
| The crew member told air traffic that the incident took place six to seven miles west of Heathrow. | The crew member told air traffic that the incident took place six to seven miles west of Heathrow. |
| 'Precautionary measure' | 'Precautionary measure' |
| Virgin Atlantic said it was working with the authorities to identify the source of the laser. | Virgin Atlantic said it was working with the authorities to identify the source of the laser. |
| It said: "The safety of our crew and customers is our top priority and we apologise for any inconvenience to those onboard. | It said: "The safety of our crew and customers is our top priority and we apologise for any inconvenience to those onboard. |
| "All customers will be offered overnight accommodation and we will get them on their journey as soon as possible." | "All customers will be offered overnight accommodation and we will get them on their journey as soon as possible." |
| Everything you need to know about lasers | Everything you need to know about lasers |
| Passenger Beth McHutchinson told the BBC: "Probably about an hour into the flight we had a tannoy, and it said the second pilot had been shot in the eye with a laser during take-off, and we were going back to Heathrow." | Passenger Beth McHutchinson told the BBC: "Probably about an hour into the flight we had a tannoy, and it said the second pilot had been shot in the eye with a laser during take-off, and we were going back to Heathrow." |
| A new law introduced in 2010 means people could be charged with "shining a light at an aircraft in flight so as to dazzle the pilot". | A new law introduced in 2010 means people could be charged with "shining a light at an aircraft in flight so as to dazzle the pilot". |
| Janet Alexander, a commercial airline pilot, said shining a laser beam into a cockpit was a very dangerous thing to do. | Janet Alexander, a commercial airline pilot, said shining a laser beam into a cockpit was a very dangerous thing to do. |
| "It's unfortunately becoming an increasingly problematic occurrence. | "It's unfortunately becoming an increasingly problematic occurrence. |
| "It's very like a lightning strike in that it's very instantaneous, very, very bright light, which is dazzling basically," she said. | "It's very like a lightning strike in that it's very instantaneous, very, very bright light, which is dazzling basically," she said. |
| "And of course if it's targeted in exactly the wrong way you could permanently damage someone's sight." | "And of course if it's targeted in exactly the wrong way you could permanently damage someone's sight." |
| Reported incidents | Reported incidents |
| Julian Bray, an aviation security expert, said such incidents were becoming fairly common, and were a potential threat to the safety of the entire plane. | Julian Bray, an aviation security expert, said such incidents were becoming fairly common, and were a potential threat to the safety of the entire plane. |
| "That could have temporarily blinded him, could damage his retina or just give him a very nasty headache," he said. | "That could have temporarily blinded him, could damage his retina or just give him a very nasty headache," he said. |
| "So it is very, very dangerous indeed but unfortunately there's a game that some so-called aircraft spotters play called laser tagging where they try and shine their beam onto the fuselage of the aircraft." | "So it is very, very dangerous indeed but unfortunately there's a game that some so-called aircraft spotters play called laser tagging where they try and shine their beam onto the fuselage of the aircraft." |
| A total of 414 "laser incidents" in the UK were reported to the Civil Aviation Authority between January and June 2015. | A total of 414 "laser incidents" in the UK were reported to the Civil Aviation Authority between January and June 2015. |
| The highest number of them was at London Heathrow Airport - 48 were reported during this period. | The highest number of them was at London Heathrow Airport - 48 were reported during this period. |
| In 2014, there were 1,440 incidents in the UK, with 168 at Heathrow, according to the CAA. | In 2014, there were 1,440 incidents in the UK, with 168 at Heathrow, according to the CAA. |
| In the US, CNN reported there were 20 incidents during one night in November last year. | In the US, CNN reported there were 20 incidents during one night in November last year. |
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