A Green Laser Was Pointed at an Army Black Hawk Helicopter. Now the FAA Is Investigating – ryan

A military aircraft reported a green laser was pointed at it mid-flight — a safety hazard and a federal crime.

The incident occurred on Thursday, April 17, with a Sikorsky UH-60 about two miles from Hector International Airport in Fargo, N.D., around 9 p.m, the flight crew reported. The FAA confirmed in a statement that no injuries were reported and the organization notified local authorities with the promise to investigate the situation.

The organization warns that lasers can “incapacitate pilots,” but incidents like this are incredibly common and put “thousands of passengers at risk every year.”

As pointing a laser at an aircraft is a U.S. federal crime, law enforcement agencies and the Federal Aviation Administration may seek criminal and civil prosecution against violators.  Offenders found aiming a laser at an aircraft can face fines up to $11,000 per violation and up to $30,800 for multiple incidents. Reports of laser cases have been largely trending upwards, with 12,840 reported in 2024. So far in 2025, the FAA has recorded nearly 3,000 instances.

“If you have a laser, please use it responsibly and never point it at an aircraft,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker in a statement last year. “We encourage you to report laser strikes to the FAA via our website or to your local law enforcement agency.”

The FAA did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

The incident comes after a series of high-profile helicopter accidents have raised questions about safety in a variety of circumstances, from military and public use aircrafts to tourist flights.

An Army Black Hawk was the helicopter involved in the deadly D.C. plane crash in January, in which it collided with an American Airlines passenger jet near Ronald Reagan National Airport, killing everyone on board. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating that incident.

More recently, on April 10, a family of five and a helicopter pilot were killed when a chopper flying over Manhattan crashed into the Hudson River near New Jersey. That incident is also under investigation, but boosted pre-existing concerns about helicopter tourism in the city and around the country.