Airliner alert over Welshpool

 

A commercial airline pilot reported being ‘lasered’ while flying over the towns and was so concerned that Air Traffic Control and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were immediately contacted and, in turn, notified the local police who have launched an investigation.

 

The incident has been taken seriously by the CAA who warned that the offender could face up to five years in jail.

 

“This is an unusual case for a pilot to have been flying at such a high altitude (more than 10,000ft) to be so concerned,” said a CAA spokesperson. “Normally this sort of thing happens with people shining laser beams at cockpits at a low level as planes come in to land so we are taking this very seriously (like our picture demonstrates above).

 

“There is an alarming rise in reports of this type nationally but to my knowledge this is the first we have received from that area. It is very hard to find those responsible and requires co-operation so we are working with the local police and hope that someone comes forward with information.”

 

The laser show put on by Newtown to celebrate the Royal Wedding on the same weekend has been ruled out and have appealed for help from the public.

 

“A complaint was made that a green laser had been directed into the sky on Sunday, April 24,” said Inspector Diane Davies. “And the likely location for it is thought to be around Berriew, between Newtown and Welshpool”.