Idiot tried to blind air ambulance pilot during emergency flight

This is the moment an idiot decided to shine a green laser light towards an air ambulance responding to a medical emergency.

The shocking incident happened as the helicopter was flying towards an emergency in Attleborough, Norfolk, at around 2.45am on December 27.

It is the seventh report since 2021 of someone shining a green light at an aircraft from the area as police hunt the culprit.

The East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) has hit out at the person and warned about the dangers of shining laser lights at air ambulances.

Anyone found responsible for shining a light at a plane or a helicopter could be locked up for up to five years.

Captain Seb Powderham, of Babcock International Group, which provides pilots for the EAAA, said: ‘Lasers directed at aircraft can significantly impact flight operations.

‘Most importantly, if a laser were to incapacitate the pilot’s ability to operate due to impaired vision, flight safety would be compromised.

‘Short-term effects include temporary flash blindness and potential distraction at a critical stage of flight. Long-term effects could include permanent damage to the eye.

‘Pilots may be required to manoeuvre the aircraft to protect the crew from the source of the laser, adjust cockpit lighting to minimise the damaging effects of the laser, update planned landing options or abandon the mission altogether. All of which ultimately impact safety and distract from the operational tasking.

‘We hope by releasing the footage we can not only support Norfolk Police in identifying those responsible for this particular incident but can further highlight the risks of shining lasers at any aircraft.’

He said anyone shining a light at an aircraft is putting lives at risk by delaying emergency treatment.

PC Dion Phillips added: ‘All the reported incidents happen overnight, often in the early hours of the morning.

‘We’ve looked into every incident, and haven’t been able to identify the person responsible, which is why we’re appealing to the local community and people living in Attleborough to share any information with us.

‘We think the person responsible is probably in the town centre at the time.’

Anyone with information can call police on 101.

Another idiot shone a laser pen at a police helicopter, temporarily blinding the pilot, and was jailed for six months in 2021.

In 2020 a dad shone shone a laser pen at a police helicopter pilot because the noise of the aircraft interrupted him listening to an audiobook.

And another dad was jailed for shining a £5 laser pen at a jet, endangering the lives of 180 holidaymakers on board.

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