Laser strike ‘idiots’ anger pilot

AIR AMBULANCE AT 700FT ON WAY TO LANDING

AN air ambulance pilot had a blinding laser beam shone in his eyes when returning to base from hospital.

Captain Jay Steward of the Great North Air Ambulance Service had flown a man from Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland, to Middlesbrough’s James Cook University.

He was returning the helicopter to its base at Durham Tees Valley Airport when a green laser beam was shone into the cabin on Sunday evening.

The aircraft was preparing to land at the time and was at about 700ft when one of the aircrew spotted the laser beam being shone from the ground.

Captain Stewart, a former military pilot, said: “It might all seem like fun and games from the ground, but I’m telling you it’s no fun at 700ft, with a crew of dedicated medics on board, when the beam could be burning your retina and you are just trying your best to get everyone home safely.”

The incident happened at about 9.25pm.

As the crew were flying in darkness, Mr Steward had already briefed them about the possibilities of laser strikes, given that the crew were targeted in the area around the hospital in November.

“It’s a shame we are having to prepare our crews for laser strikes, but that’s the world we are living in sadly,” he said.

“I can’t emphasise enough how dangerous this is.

“It causes temporary sight loss, which could quite feasibly cause the pilot to lose control of the aircraft. The consequences of that don’t bear thinking about.”

Captain Steward added: “They are idiots. We would ask people that, if they see someone using a laser pen recklessly, to call the police.”

The incident was reported to the police and aviation authorities. Meanwhile, the air ambulance’s aviation operators Multiflight are researching protective visors which could be introduced on to the aircraft when a suitable solution is found.

“As with everything we buy, the money from this will have to come from public donations,” said Captain Steward.

The aircraft was returning to base from James Cook having flown a man from Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland, to the hospital with life-threatening head injuries.

The man, believed in his twenties, was injured when the car he was driving was in collision with an HGV.

He arrived in a stable condition.

Captain Jay Steward The chief pilot of the region’s air ambulance charity has warned against the dangers of laser strikes after his aircraft was targeted once more while returning from a rescue