AIRLINE PILOT BLINDED BY LASER OVER PAPEETE

PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT

Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center
With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i

AIRLINE PILOT BLINDED BY LASER OVER PAPEETE
Authorities investigate the incident

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, April 13, 2008) – Police in French Polynesia are trying to locate the individual who trained a laser at the pilot of an Air Tahiti Nui airliner landing in Papeete after a flight from Los Angeles.

The pilot has told a Tahiti newspaper that he was blinded as the plane with its 290 passengers on board was at an altitude of 3,000 feet and he was about to finalise the approach to the airport.

The pilot has lodged a formal complaint and police say they have established that the laser was directed from the port area.

A similar incident occurred last year when young people pointed lasers at a plane from near the runway.

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