Shocking moment passenger jet is dazzled with hundreds of powerful laser beams shone by reckless festival goers
- According to the Federal Aviation Administration, laser attacks on an aircraft pose a serious threat to pilots
- Shining a laser on a pilot could result in a fine of up to £8,700, the FAA notes
This is the shocking moment hundreds of reckless festival goers shined powerful laser beams at a passenger plane overhead.
Video footage from the fireworks event in Tultepec, Mexico, shows a huge crowd of partygoers as the plane flies overhead.
Within moments, countless laser pointers beam into the sky, illuminating the entire plane in an eerie green glow.
The footage, captured last weekend on March 16 and 17, stunned social media users who criticized festival goers for their stupidity.
One said: ‘I can’t believe these people’s massive lack of gray matter. It’s unbelievable how stupid they are.’
Hundreds of festivals in Mexico shine lasers at a passenger plane as it flies overhead
The sky was lit up with green lights as social media users criticized the partygoers for their stupidity
In the footage, the plane glowed green because of all the blinding lasers
Another added: ‘It’s not funny and it’s illegal.
A third pointed the finger at those who had traveled to the area rather than locals.
“The people of Tultepec don’t do this,” they said.
‘Planes fly over the area every day and that doesn’t happen.
“Many people come to the fair from other places and cause disturbances.”
It is currently unclear whether police are investigating the video or whether the targeted airline has filed a complaint with air safety officials.
The annual International Pyrotechnics Festival celebrates the area’s role as the center of Mexico’s homegrown fireworks industry.
Up to 100,000 festival goers watch and take part in spectacular processions with huge fireworks displays.
The use of laser pointers against aircraft is banned in most countries of the world and can lead to prison sentences and heavy fines.
It comes after a 22-year-old pilot revealed why you should never point a laser at a plane – claiming the FBI will track you down ‘immediately’.
Sabrina Johnson, an airline and helicopter pilot who has been flying since she was 14, described the dangers and consequences of pointing a laser at an aircraft – including the number of years you could spend in prison for the crime.
In a viral clip, which has been viewed more than 1.1 million times on TikTok, Sabrina said, “If you think shooting a laser at a plane is funny, it’s not.”
She revealed that she had been lasered “maybe two or three times” and that the FBI even called her to let her know that they had tracked them down immediately each time.
“When I was flying as a flight instructor, I was flying around New York City, doing some sightseeing, and I got lasered.
“So it’s basically like a green laser flashing, they’re trying to blind pilots,” she explained.
She added that people often find it “funny,” but it can have serious consequences.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, laser attacks on an aircraft pose a serious threat to pilots.
Shining a laser on a pilot could result in a fine of up to £8,700, the FAA notes.