In the United States, the number of laser incidents targeting aircraft has been declining for the third consecutive year. According to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), from January to July 2026, pilots reported 4,470 such incidents – 24% fewer than in the same period last year.
The most cases were recorded in California – 614, and in Texas – 445. However, when accounting for population density, New Mexico and Hawaii emerged as leaders – states with large numbers of tourists and scenic sunsets that attract people with laser pointers.
An ordinary laser pointer costing a few dollars can, from a distance of several kilometers, temporarily blind a pilot or cause retinal burns. Since 2010, when the FAA began tracking this data, pilots have reported 322 injuries related to such incidents. The danger lies not in the beam's power, but in the fact that even a second of disorientation during landing approach – at high speed – poses a critical risk.
The FAA emphasizes that directing a laser at an aircraft in the United States is a federal crime. Violators face fines up to $11,000 for each offense, and within criminal prosecution – up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000.
The FAA attributes the reduction in incidents not so much to the severity of penalties as to awareness campaigns and labeling high-powered lasers with warnings about prohibition of use near airports.
The Same Beam, a Different Target
While civilian aviation attempts to eliminate laser threats from the sky, the military sector deliberately directs it there – but as a weapon. Ukraine has developed the Sunray laser system, and in spring 2025, the then-commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces demonstrated the first video of the "Tryzub" laser installation in operation.
The military's interest is understandable: a laser weapon shot costs up to $5, whereas an air defense missile costs tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. In a world where drones attack in waves of 20–50 units per night, this price difference determines whether air defense can economically sustain a prolonged war.
A paradox emerges: a technology capable of blinding a pilot in seconds is being eliminated from civilian skies through fines and imprisonment, while in the defense industry it is being scaled up as the cheapest way to shoot down enemy targets. The question is merely who learns to control this beam faster – civilian aviation regulators or engineers putting lasers on combat duty.
