JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Federal Aviation Administration released an alarming update about the number of laser strikes aimed at aircraft in Florida.
A laser strike occurs when someone points a laser beam at a plane or helicopter while the aircraft is in the air.
The FAA warned that pointing a laser at an aircraft puts everyone onboard and on the ground below at risk.
According to FAA data, Jacksonville is near the top of the list for laser strikes at the midway point of 2024.
Through July, there have been 490 reported strikes in Florida.
In that same time frame, 65 of those reports were in Jacksonville. That number is more than Tampa (64), Orlando (47) and Fort Lauderdale (12).
Jacksonville is behind Miami, which had 74 reports of laser strikes.
People who shine lasers at aircraft could face a fine of up to $11,000 per violation. There’s also a possibility of jail or prison time.
Last year, pilots reported a record of more than 13,000 laser strikes.
Since the FAA started tracking laser strikes in 2010, 313 injuries have been recorded.
The FAA encourages anyone who sees a laser strike to report it HERE.
The FAA also encourages you to contact your local law enforcement agency.