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| Virgin Atlantic flight back in UK after 'laser incident' | Virgin Atlantic flight back in UK after 'laser incident' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A flight heading to New York turned back to London Heathrow Airport after a laser beam was shone into the cockpit, Virgin Atlantic has said. | A flight heading to New York turned back to London Heathrow Airport after a laser beam was shone into the cockpit, Virgin Atlantic has said. |
| The crew told air traffic control there was a "medical issue" with one of the pilots after the laser hit flight VS025 after take-off at 20:13 GMT on Sunday. | The crew told air traffic control there was a "medical issue" with one of the pilots after the laser hit flight VS025 after take-off at 20:13 GMT on Sunday. |
| The flight was grounded overnight, and the 252 passengers put up in hotels. | The flight was grounded overnight, and the 252 passengers put up in hotels. |
| Shining a laser at a plane can be a criminal offence. There have been no arrests, but police are investigating. | Shining a laser at a plane can be a criminal offence. There have been no arrests, but police are investigating. |
| Everything you need to know about lasers | Everything you need to know about lasers |
| 'It's only a matter of time until someone dies' | 'It's only a matter of time until someone dies' |
| In a recording from the cockpit which was published online, a crew member is heard telling Irish air traffic that the incident took place six to seven miles west of Heathrow. | In a recording from the cockpit which was published online, a crew member is heard telling Irish air traffic that the incident took place six to seven miles west of Heathrow. |
| 'Pilot shot in the eye' | 'Pilot shot in the eye' |
| Virgin Atlantic said the flight returned to the west London airport as a "precautionary measure" after the co-pilot reported feeling unwell. | Virgin Atlantic said the flight returned to the west London airport as a "precautionary measure" after the co-pilot reported feeling unwell. |
| The airline apologised to passengers for any inconvenience caused, and said it was working with the authorities to identify the source of the laser. | The airline apologised to passengers for any inconvenience caused, and said it was working with the authorities to identify the source of the laser. |
| 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." |
| Passengers are due to board an alternative flight at 13:00 GMT on Monday, but some complained about the length of the delay. | Passengers are due to board an alternative flight at 13:00 GMT on Monday, but some complained about the length of the delay. |
| Photographer Max Earey tweeted: "So the aircraft lands @10.30 pm but you can't get me out again until 1pm tomorrow! REALLY @VirginAtlantic I'm losing a whole day of my trip." | Photographer Max Earey tweeted: "So the aircraft lands @10.30 pm but you can't get me out again until 1pm tomorrow! REALLY @VirginAtlantic I'm losing a whole day of my trip." |
| But Jessica Moore, who was travelling to New York for a holiday with her boyfriend, said she thought the pilots were right to turn around, and Virgin had treated them well. | But Jessica Moore, who was travelling to New York for a holiday with her boyfriend, said she thought the pilots were right to turn around, and Virgin had treated them well. |
| "Many people on the plane were quite worried they weren't telling us the whole truth, but I didn't think that was the case," she said. | "Many people on the plane were quite worried they weren't telling us the whole truth, but I didn't think that was the case," she said. |
| "Obviously it is frustrating to lose a day of our holidays; I am travelling to New York with my boyfriend and we were supposed to stay there for five days." | "Obviously it is frustrating to lose a day of our holidays; I am travelling to New York with my boyfriend and we were supposed to stay there for five days." |
| A new law introduced in 2010 means someone can be charged with "shining a light at an aircraft in flight so as to dazzle the pilot". | A new law introduced in 2010 means someone can be charged with "shining a light at an aircraft in flight so as to dazzle the pilot". |
| According to the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), a laser can result in temporary vision loss associated with flash blindness; a "visual interference that persists after the source of illumination has been removed". | According to the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), a laser can result in temporary vision loss associated with flash blindness; a "visual interference that persists after the source of illumination has been removed". |
| It can also cause an after-image - an "image left in the visual field after exposure to a bright light" - and glare in the cockpit. | It can also cause an after-image - an "image left in the visual field after exposure to a bright light" - and glare in the cockpit. |
| 'Dazzling light' | 'Dazzling light' |
| Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said lasers were "incredibly dangerous", and called for the government to classify them as "offensive weapons". | Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said lasers were "incredibly dangerous", and called for the government to classify them as "offensive weapons". |
| "This is not an isolated incident. Aircraft are attacked with lasers at an alarming rate and with lasers with ever-increasing strength," he said. | "This is not an isolated incident. Aircraft are attacked with lasers at an alarming rate and with lasers with ever-increasing strength," he said. |
| "Modern lasers have the power to blind, and certainly to act as a huge distraction and to dazzle the pilots during critical phases of flight." | "Modern lasers have the power to blind, and certainly to act as a huge distraction and to dazzle the pilots during critical phases of flight." |
| Janet Alexander, a commercial airline pilot, described the experience as "very like a lightning strike in that it's very instantaneous, very, very bright light, which is dazzling basically". | Janet Alexander, a commercial airline pilot, described the experience as "very like a lightning strike in that it's very instantaneous, very, very bright light, which is dazzling basically". |
| "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." |
| Between January 2009 and June 2015 more than 8,998 laser incidents across the country were reported to the UK Civil Aviation Authority. | Between January 2009 and June 2015 more than 8,998 laser incidents across the country were reported to the UK Civil Aviation Authority. |
| 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. |
| Manchester International airport had the second most in that period, with 107, followed by Birmingham airport with 92 and Leeds Bradford airport with 81. | Manchester International airport had the second most in that period, with 107, followed by Birmingham airport with 92 and Leeds Bradford airport with 81. |
| In the US, CNN reported there were 20 incidents during one night alone in November last year. | In the US, CNN reported there were 20 incidents during one night alone in November last year. |
| 'Laser tagging games' | 'Laser tagging games' |
| Aviation expert Julian Bray said so-called aircraft spotters would play "laser tagging" games, where they would try to shine a beam onto the fuselage of an aircraft. | Aviation expert Julian Bray said so-called aircraft spotters would play "laser tagging" games, where they would try to shine a beam onto the fuselage of an aircraft. |
| Such incidents were becoming fairly common, he said, and were "very, very dangerous". | Such incidents were becoming fairly common, he said, and were "very, very dangerous". |
| A CAA spokesman said: "We strongly urge anyone who sees a laser being used at night in the vicinity of an airport to contact the police immediately." | A CAA spokesman said: "We strongly urge anyone who sees a laser being used at night in the vicinity of an airport to contact the police immediately." |
| In November 2015 it was reported that the eye of a British Airways pilot was damaged by a "military" strength laser which had been shone into the cockpit of his aircraft earlier in the year. | In November 2015 it was reported that the eye of a British Airways pilot was damaged by a "military" strength laser which had been shone into the cockpit of his aircraft earlier in the year. |
| Meanwhile, in 2014 three men from Leicestershire were jailed for using laser pens to dazzle pilots coming in to land at East Midlands Airport. | Meanwhile, in 2014 three men from Leicestershire were jailed for using laser pens to dazzle pilots coming in to land at East Midlands Airport. |
| In one case the pilots' vision was so badly affected they covered the cockpit and landed on instruments alone. | In one case the pilots' vision was so badly affected they covered the cockpit and landed on instruments alone. |
| Were you on the flight? Are you a pilot? Have you been affected by a similar incident? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |