Police investigate after laser beamed into aircraft left pilot briefly dazed

HALIFAX — Police say a pilot was briefly dazed after a laser was pointed at his small plane as he flew over a Halifax suburb.

They say a Diamond DA20 single-engine aircraft was flying over Bedford just before 11 p.m. Tuesday, when the pilot’s vision became temporarily impaired due to a laser beam pointing into the cockpit.

Const. Dianne Penfound says police searched the area where the beam was thought to have originated, but didn’t find any suspects.

She estimates the plane was flying at an altitude of about 1,220 metres, and was on its way to Moncton, N.B.

She says officials are looking into the matter, adding that the offence carries a maximum penalty under the Aeronautics Act of a $100,000 fine, five years in prison or both. on board the flight to Budapest.

Const. Bancroft Wright said a passenger became disruptive, but was being controlled by airline staff.

“There was an altercation when he was being controlled,” Wright said. “During that altercation one of the stewardesses was injured.”

Wright described the flight attendant’s injury as minor, but said it required treatment from paramedics at the airport.

The plane was just past Montreal when it had to turn back.

John Svab, 57, of Hamilton, has been charged with uttering death threats, aggravated assaulted and endangering an aircraft while in flight.