Now Reading: Laser blinds pilot, Malaysia Airlines flight circles before Kolkata landing
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Laser blinds pilot, Malaysia Airlines flight circles before Kolkata landing
A Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur carrying 159 passengers had to circle over Kolkata after a laser beam disoriented the pilot during approach on Saturday night. Flight MH-184 was about eight…
The Story in Brief
A Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur carrying 159 passengers had to circle over Kolkata after a laser beam disoriented the pilot during approach on Saturday night. Flight MH-184 was about eight nautical miles from the runway when a bright laser flashed into the cockpit from the Madhyamgram-Barasat side, airport sources told PTI. The pilot’s vision was temporarily affected, delaying the landing from 11.20 pm to 11.25 pm. All passengers and crew were safe.
Kolkata airport director Vikram Singh said laser use around the airport is prohibited but such incidents occur occasionally. A complaint has been lodged with the NSCBI Airport Police Station, which is investigating. Pilots have previously complained about laser beams during take-off and landing, including during the 2025 Durga Puja festival at Sreebhumi, when a laser show was stopped. Intense laser beams can cause temporary blindness, posing risks during critical flight phases, according to sources.
The Indian Opinion
Green lasers at airports are no prank. Saturday’s incident, where a pilot was briefly blinded eight nautical miles out, is one more in a string of such reports. The airport director says violations happen ‘occasionally’, that admission itself is worrying. Punishments exist but enforcement is weak. If the police do not trace this source quickly, the public will rightly see this as a farce. The test is simple: will an arrest come before the next flight is put at risk?
Sources (4): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, hindustantimes.com, news.abplive.com, timesnownews.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 4 sources.
