Florida is among the top three states in the country for reported laser light incidents targeting aircraft, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Officials say more than 800 incidents were reported across the state in 2024.
Marshall Lee, a commercially rated helicopter pilot in Orlando, said he has experienced a laser strike firsthand.
“Just flying around and had this little green laser pointed at me,” Lee recalled. “Luckily, it didn’t hit me in the eyes directly.”
Laser strikes on aircraft pose a significant risk, especially at night, he said.
“Any distractions while flying a helicopter or plane is not a good situation,” Lee said. “You always want to be situationally aware of traffic, obstacles.”
The FAA reported more than 13,000 laser strikes on aircraft nationwide in 2024, with 810 occurring in Florida. Despite the high number of incidents, arrests remain low.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement reports fewer than 10 arrests statewide for laser-related offenses since 2021.
One of those arrests happened last November when Orange County deputies charged 37-year-old Daniel Butterworth.
The sheriff’s office said he pointed a laser at one of its helicopters, and investigators found a green laser on him at the time of his arrest.
Another incident occurred in March 2024 when 33-year-old Jonathan Cross of Merritt Island was arrested for “misuse of a laser lighting device” after authorities said he targeted a Brevard County Sheriff’s Office helicopter while it was searching for a missing child.
Lee urged people to think twice before pointing a laser at an aircraft.
“Just don’t,” he said. “I mean, it’s illegal. It’s a federal offense.”
