US Border Patrol aircraft targeted by lasers in six separate incidents

• U.S. Border Patrol aircraft have been targeted by lasers in six incidents over the past four months, prompting evasive actions from crews. No injuries were reported in the incidents, which are under investigation.
• The most recent event occurred Sunday, Feb. 9, near McAllen, Texas, where a laser from a vehicle on the Mexican riverbank struck a helicopter three times.
• In another incident, a Florida man is facing felony charges for aiming a laser at a helicopter.

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U.S. Border Patrol aircraft have been targeted by lasers in six separate incidents over the past four months, according to Customs and Border Protection. The agency wrote in a news release Tuesday, Feb. 18, that air interdiction agents assigned to Air and Marine Operations have had to take evasive measures when targeted by the lasers.

The most recent incident occurred Sunday, Feb. 9, just miles from the McAllen International Airport in McAllen, Texas, as the crew performed border security operations.

The Border Patrol helicopter was reportedly struck three times with a laser from the ground. Customs and Border Protection says the laser came from a vehicle on the Mexican riverbank.

Another incident Thursday, Jan. 9, also involved a Border Patrol helicopter in Jacksonville, Florida. One person was arrested and is now facing felony state charges for allegedly aiming a laser at the aircraft.

Customs and Border Protection says pointing a laser at an aircraft may seem like a tiny beam. However, they say it has the potential to blind the crew on board and cause a collision.

Shining a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime. If convicted, a person could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Customs and Border Protection says no pilots or crew members were injured in the six incidents currently under investigation.

In December, the FBI had to issue a warning about lasers being pointed at airplanes after a pilot was injured while flying the aircraft and required medical attention after landing.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there were 12,840 laser incidents reported in 2024.