A man who aimed a green laser pointer at a Delta Air Lines flight on approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. During the March 2024 incident, Joseph L. Crapsi, 31, of Cheektowaga, repeatedly aimed the laser at the aircraft during the critical phase of flight.
According to one of the pilots, the attack lasted between 60 and 90 seconds, adding that he felt “something horrible would happen.” Laser attacks are a serious threat that can temporarily blind pilots and, in severe cases, cause permanent damage, as well as endanger the safety of an aircraft and its occupants.
This is very dangerous, but my concern is less this specific instance, and more the underlying context. I’m 30, and this guy was 31. My parents did teach me not to point lasers up or at planes; however, their generation experience much more information about this than I ever did. I really think we need to invest in public information campaigns. If you live within some distance of a commercial airport, maybe you should occasionally get an ad telling you how dangerous this is. Maybe even collaborate with companies to push relevant videos on the topic.
Plus, in the age of the internet I don’t think propaganda is quite as dangerous if the government starts misbehaving. Of course, I’d also like democratic systems to make sure these information campaigns are true and fair.
Telling a bunch of people not to do X is a great way to get a few of them to do X.
If people don’t know the dangers, it’s kinda hard to blame them. It’s like convicting a child of murder after they accidentally fumbled a gun. Sure, you can do it, but good luck convincing anyone it’s justice.