California, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Illinois, Arizona, New York, Indiana and More Report Over Twelve Thousand Alarming Laser Strikes in 2024, Raising Urgent Concerns for U.S. Aviation Safety

Published on March 27, 2025

In 2024, pilots reported a concerning 12,840 laser strikes to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), marking a 3% decrease from 2023. While the drop is a slight improvement, the figures remain alarmingly high and continue to pose significant safety risks to aviation.

Shining a laser at an aircraft is not only a dangerous and reckless act but also a federal crime. Lasers directed at planes can disorient or temporarily blind pilots, jeopardizing the safety of those onboard, many of whom are traveling with hundreds of passengers. Since the FAA began tracking laser strike incidents in 2010, a total of 328 reported injuries have been linked to these incidents.

In 2024, the states with the highest number of reported laser strikes were:

• California: 1,489 incidents
• Texas: 1,463 incidents
• Florida: 810 incidents
• Tennessee: 649 incidents
• Illinois: 622 incidents
• Arizona: 550 incidents
• New York: 531 incidents
• Indiana: 512 incidents
• Georgia: 416 incidents
• Virginia: 415 incidents

Individuals who engage in this reckless behavior face severe consequences. The FAA imposes fines up to $11,000 per laser strike violation and up to $30,800 for multiple incidents. Beyond financial penalties, offenders could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine under federal criminal laws. Additionally, state and local penalties may apply.

To better understand and track these incidents, the FAA offers a visualization tool that displays laser strike data from 2010 onward. This tool highlights trends based on geographic areas, per capita data, and the times of day and year when laser strikes are most prevalent. The FAA makes this information public to raise awareness about the ongoing dangers posed by these strikes.

The FAA encourages the public to report laser strikes immediately to both the FAA and local law enforcement agencies, helping to combat this persistent safety issue.

For further details, FAA aviation safety expert Kevin Morris addresses frequently asked questions about laser strikes, offering valuable insights into the steps being taken to reduce these hazardous occurrences. occurrences.