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British Airways flight becomes latest laser target

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A British Airways flight approaching Heathrow was reportedly targeted by a powerful laser in the second attack on an aircraft in under 10 days.

The laser beam is thought to have struck the pilot of the aircraft in the eyes as he made his final approach to the runway.

However, the pilot was able to land the flight from Amsterdam without incident and police said the aircraft was not “endangered,” the London Evening Standard reported.

The attack came just nine days after a Virgin Atlantic flight to New York was forced to turn back to Heathrow after a laser was shone into the cockpit while it flew at 8,000ft.

The pilot declared a medical emergency about an hour into the flight when his co-pilot was taken ill and the plane returned to the airport as a “precautionary measure.”

Scotland Yard confirmed that officers were investigating the latest incident where a laser was shone in the direction of an incoming flight into Heathrow.

A spokesman told the newspaper: “The incident did not endanger the aircraft.

“Enquiries continue to establish where the offence took place. There have been no arrests.”

The BA pilot is thought to have been struck in the eye by the beam from a green laser on approach to Heathrow.

He is not thought to have been hurt but is expected to go for a medical check-up.

Pilots demanded that laser pointers be reclassified as offensive weapons after the last attack on the Virgin Atlantic flight to New York on February 14.

It also emerged that a green laser was shone at a Thomson flight as it came in to land at Gatwick last Tuesday but no-one was hurt and the aircraft landed safely.

The British Airline Pilots Association said aircraft were being attacked with lasers at an “alarming rate” with devices of ever increasing strength.

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