Federal authorities in Western New York are trying to get the word out about the dangers of people flashing laser pointers at airplanes.
The FBI office for this region and similar offices around the country, and offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest for anyone who aims a laser at an aircraft.
FBI Special Agent in Charge for Western New York, Brian Boetig, says that pointing a laser at a plane when it might affect the pilot's vision is a very dangerous thing to do.
"The effects of that laser on an aircraft at nighttime really destroys a pilot's night vision. It would be the same as being in a dark room for 15 or 20 minutes, letting your eyes get adjusted to it and then having someone come up and snap a camera flash in your face repeatedly."
Boetig says there have been five such incidents in Western New York so far this year, with four of them happening in Rochester.
