Wiltshire Air Ambulance victim of laser attack

Emergency helicopter targeted as it attempted to land in a park

Author: Henrietta CreaseyPublished 1st Dec 2021
Last updated 1st Dec 2021

Wiltshire Air Ambulance was forced to abandon a flight after a laser attack.

A high-intensity light was shone at the emergency helicopter as it attempted to land in Victoria Park in Frome last Thursday (25th November).

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Air Ambulance said:

“This was a night training flight which had to be aborted. However had this been a incident it would have delayed/prevented the crew from getting to the scene.”

Last year the aircraft suffered four similar attacks.

Incidents involving laser can be extremely dangerous for pilots as it can distract them and temporarily cause blindness.

A law passed in 2016 made it illegal for a shining light to be pointed towards an aircraft in flight.

The offence carries an unlimited fine and up to five years in prison.

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