The FBI is searching for the person who injured a Delta Airlines pilot when the plane's cockpit was illuminated by a laser beam as the airliner was landing at a New York airport.
On Tuesday, Delta Flight #1102 was heading toward LaGuardia Airport just before 8 p.m. when flight crew reported a green laser beam entering the cockpit twice, authorities said. One of the two pilots was injured, causing flash blindness and "severely disrupting his vision," the FBI said.
“Laser incidents are often viewed as harmless. This couldn’t be further from the truth,” FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge George Venizelos said in a statement Friday. “Our paramount concern is the safety of aircraft passengers and we are asking anyone who knows anything to contact us.”
Tuesday's crime follows a string of similar incidents in the New York City area within the past few months.
In January, a United Airlines pilot experienced flash blindness from a laser authorities say originated from Staten Island. The incident occurred as the flight was landing at LaGuardia Airport. In December 2013, a JetBlue pilot was temporarily blinded by a laser as the aircraft approached John F. Kennedy Airport.
Anyone with information on these incidents is urged to call the FBI at 212-384-1000. A $10,000 reward is available for information that leads to the arrest of anyone involved in these crimes. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
FoxNews.com's Cristina Corbin contributed to this report.
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