An American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 (Flight 3114) reported being illuminated by a blue laser about five miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Jan. 29; the aircraft landed safely and the FAA is investigating. The FAA recorded 10,993 laser incidents in 2025 (about 30.1 per day), a 14% year-over-year decline but still a high total. Pointing lasers at aircraft can result in FAA fines up to $32,000 and federal criminal penalties including up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Authorities recently secured a 21-month sentence for a man who temporarily blinded helicopter pilots with a Class IV blue laser, underscoring the seriousness of such offenses.
American Airlines Flight Illuminated by Blue Laser During Final Approach to Charlotte — Plane Lands Safely
L: A man holds a blue laser; R: An American Airlines passenger planeGetty; Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty
An American Airlines crew reported that their Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating as Flight 3114 from Charleston, S.C., was struck by a blue laser while on final approach to Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) on the morning of Jan. 29, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told PEOPLE.
What Happened
FlightAware records show the flight departed Charleston International Airport just after 6:15 a.m. local time and was scheduled to land at CLT about an hour later. According to the FAA, the flight crew reported being illuminated by a blue laser when the aircraft was roughly five miles from the airport, around 7 a.m. local time. The FAA confirmed the aircraft landed safely and that it will investigate the incident. American Airlines did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A blue beam laser device projects into a night sky.Alamy
Why Laser Strikes Matter
The FAA warns that devices often sold as toys or presentation tools can pose serious hazards when aimed at aircraft. "Pointed to the sky, lasers are a serious threat," the agency says on its website. A bright beam can temporarily dazzle or distract pilots during critical phases of flight, increasing the risk to passengers and crew.
Incident Statistics
In 2025 the FAA recorded 10,993 laser hazard incidents — an average of 30.1 per day — a 14% decline from the prior year but still considered unacceptably high by regulators.
Charlotte Douglas International AirportGetty
Consequences and Recent Enforcement
Pointing a laser at an aircraft is illegal and carries stiff penalties. The FAA can impose civil fines up to $32,000. Federal criminal penalties may include up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000, and state or local charges may also apply.
"Pointing a laser at an aircraft can have catastrophic consequences, including the potential for fatal accidents if pilots are temporarily blinded. This is not a harmless prank," said Chris Crocker, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI St. Louis Division, following a recent prosecution.
As an example of enforcement, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Missouri reported that Joshua J. Johnson, 44, was sentenced in December 2025 to 21 months in prison after using a blue Class IV laser to temporarily blind Metro Air Support helicopter pilots over St. Louis in August 2024. Authorities said the act was quickly traced and prosecuted.
FAA Message to the Public
The FAA continues to investigate incidents and urges the public not to aim lasers at aircraft. Investigators say motivations range from ignorance about a device's power to intentional targeting, but the result is the same: serious risk to flight safety and potential criminal liability.
How to Help: If you see a beam pointed at an aircraft, report it to local law enforcement and, if possible, note the time, location and beam color to assist investigators.
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