Four aircraft were hit by laser strikes near Boston in the last two days, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
There were three incidents Monday, the FAA said, with a fourth occurring Tuesday morning.
The crew of Alaska Airlines flight 536 reported being illuminated by a green laser at about 5:30 a.m. Monday, the FAA said on Tuesday. Ten minute later, the FAA said JetBlue flight 988 and Delta Air Lines flight 803 also reported being hit by green lasers.
Authorities were notified of the incidents and the FAA said it will also investigate.
"It's so bright that it can temporarily blind the pilot or both people in the cockpit," said Stephen Cunningham, owner of National Flight Simulator in Manchester, New Hampshire. "The FBI calls it an assault."
Cunningham has worked in the aviation industry for the past 40 years. He says that while lasers aren't new, advancements in technology have made the latest models stronger and brighter than ever.
"It's probably not much different than pointing a gun at someone and pulling the trigger, quite frankly," he said. "Because if you blind the pilot, and he or she is unable to successfully able to land the airplane and people die, that's criminal."
According to the FAA, there have been 20 laser incidents in Massachusetts so far this year, with a vast majority happening in the morning hours. Nationwide, 9,500 pilots reported laser strikes in 2022. Since 2010, 278 pilots have reported an injury from a laser strike.
Back in September, crews in two Jet Blue flights and a medical helicopter landing at a hospital reported being illuminated by a laser.
People who are caught shooting lasers at aircraft can be fined up to $11,000 for each case, or more than $30,000 for multiple incidents, said the FAA.
