Delta flights among 5 targeted by lasers over Long Island, New Jersey
NEW YORK (MYFOXNY) - The Federal Aviation Administration and New York State Park Police are searching for individuals who pointed lasers at several planes flying over Long Island and New Jersey on Thursday night.
One laser came from Bethpage State Park and was aimed at several planes, three of which had taken off from Kennedy Airport, according to FAA officials.
Pilots reported the green laser as they were flying at an altitude of about 8,000 feet northwest of Farmingdale between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., said FAA officials.
The targeted planes on Long Island were American flight 185 bound for Los Angeles; Shuttle America flight 4213 bound for Cleveland; Delta flight 2292 bound for Boston and Delta flight 2634.
In addition, Sun Country Airlines Flight 249 reported a green laser illuminated the aircraft when it was 14 miles southwest of JFK at around 11:30 p.m. The FAA alerted the New Jersey State Police about that incident.
No injuries were reported.
Pointing a laser at a plane is a federal crime. There have been nearly 2,000 laser incidents across the country through May 15, putting incidents at a record pace.
Locally, LaGuardia has seen 36, Newark has 21 incidents, and in addition to last night's reports, JFK has 3 laser incidents this year.
In 2014 there were 3,894 laser incidents reported in the U.S. by airlines.
Later in the day, another commercial airliner on approach to LaGuardia had to climb 200 feet to avoid a drone over a New York City park.