Delhi IGI Airport Grapples with Escalating Laser Beam Incidents Targeting Aircraft
New Delhi: A disturbing trend of laser beams being deliberately aimed at aircraft operating to and from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport is intensifying, presenting a significant new safety concern for aviation authorities. The latest complaint emerged on Wednesday when the crew of a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to Delhi reported being struck by ground-based laser beams, highlighting the growing frequency of these dangerous occurrences.
Safety Risks and Operational Hazards for Pilots
Aviation sources emphasize that laser attacks pose a severe safety issue due to their temporary blinding effect on pilots. "The pilots were hit by laser beams from the ground. This occurrence has increased in the past few months and become a menace. This is a safety issue as lasers have a blinding effect for some time and that can have consequences," stated insiders. Multiple pilots have described how the glare impairs their ability to read instruments and view runways, with flash blindness lasting from seconds to minutes, particularly during critical low-altitude phases like landing and takeoff.
Enforcement Challenges and Global Prevalence
Despite regulations mandating action by airport operators and local police, enforcement remains largely ineffective. "It is almost impossible to catch miscreants behind such acts and so there is no question of taking action against them. This is leading to an unhindered increase in such incidents," a source explained. Delhi is not alone in facing this threat; it is a global phenomenon, with airports in major urban areas bearing the brunt of such attacks. Pilots typically respond by immediately looking away from the beam and reporting incidents to air traffic control, but preventive measures have yielded limited success.
Coordinated Efforts and Ongoing Struggles
Aviation authorities are actively coordinating with airport operators, who are in turn liaising with local police to address the issue. However, these efforts have so far been largely unsuccessful in curbing the rise of laser beam incidents. The persistent nature of these attacks underscores the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and stricter penalties to deter potential offenders and safeguard flight operations.
