FAA investigates green laser near Newark

The Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday, May 14, that it was investigating a report that a green laser was pointed at a United Airlines flight approaching Newark Liberty International Airport. ABC7 New York reported the incident after the crew told controllers about the laser, citing federal aviation officials. The FAA has not publicly identified the flight number in the material reviewed by Reuters-style reporting. The agency says laser illumination can distract or temporarily impair pilots during critical phases of flight. ### What exactly did the crew report near Newark? ABC7 New York said the United crew reported that a green laser was pointed at the aircraft while it was still miles away from Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The station said the FAA was investigating the report as a potential safety threat near one of the country’s busiest air hubs. (abc7ny.com) Newark Liberty sits inside congested Northeast airspace, where aircraft on approach are descending and lining up for landing. The FAA’s public guidance says pilots and crew members are asked to immediately report unauthorized laser illumination by radio to the appropriate air traffic control facility. ### Why does the FAA treat a laser report as a serious incident? (abc7ny.com) The FAA says pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime. The agency says a beam can incapacitate pilots and put passengers at risk, particularly during takeoff, landing and other phases that demand sustained visual attention. The agency’s laser-safety material says federal, state and local prosecutors have pursued cases that ended in jail time, probation, community service and financial penalties. (faa.gov) The FAA also says it can seek civil penalties against violators in addition to criminal enforcement by law enforcement agencies. ### How common are laser strikes on aircraft now? (faa.gov) The FAA said on February 25, 2026, that pilots reported 10,994 laser strikes in 2025. That was down 14% from 2024, but the agency said the total remained “too high.” In 2024, pilots reported 12,840 laser strikes, according to FAA safety pages and a March 2025 agency release. (faa.gov) The FAA has published annual incident lists and says it tracks reports from civilian and military aviation through its laser safety initiative. ### What happens after a pilot reports a laser? FAA guidance says pilots should report the event immediately to air traffic control, including the location, color of the laser and the altitude of the aircraft if possible. (faa.gov) The agency’s laser incident page says the FAA encourages reports not only from pilots and controllers but also from members of the public. (faa.gov) Law enforcement agencies may then try to identify where the beam originated. The FAA’s public materials do not say every report leads to charges, but they describe coordination with law enforcement as part of the agency’s effort to reduce laser strikes. ### Did the FAA release more details about the Newark case? The FAA’s general incident statements page reviewed for this report did not include a detailed standalone bulletin on the Newark laser report as of May 15. (faa.gov) ABC7 New York’s account is the public report that identified the airline as United and described the laser as green. (faa.gov) United Airlines did not provide publicly accessible detail on the incident in the sources reviewed, and a company site search available through web indexing did not surface a statement on the case. The available reporting does not say anyone was injured or that the aircraft failed to land safely. (faa.gov) ### What should readers watch for next? The FAA’s next public updates, if any, would most likely appear through agency incident statements, laser-safety pages or annual reported-laser data releases. Law enforcement announcements or court filings would be the places to look for any identified suspect or charges tied to the Newark-area report. (faa.gov) (abc7ny.com)