The increasing problem of laser attacks on Portugal’s planes has led to one Ryanair jet having to abort a landing, and retry from the opposite direction.
As media sources are revealing today, there have been almost 1,000 laser attacks on planes since 2010 – most of them affecting flights at Sá Carneiro airport in the north, although others have been reported in Lisbon and Faro.
Lasers can cause temporary blindness if shone into people’s eyes, and are thus considered an attack on transport safety if aimed at pilots – with penalties reaching ten years in jail.
Last year, there were 277 such attacks reported on Portuguese planes.
Also read:Laser attacks a “serious problem” around Faro Airport
