Correction: Aircraft-Lasers story
Jul 17, 2015, 6:54 AM
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — In a story July 16 about reports of lasers directed at jets, The Associated Press relying on information from the FAA erroneously identified one of the targeted flights. It was Republic Airlines Flight 4643 bound for LaGuardia, not Republic Airlines Flight 4632 bound for Pittsburgh.
A corrected version of the story is below:
11 flights report being lit by lasers over New Jersey
11 flights report being lit by lasers over New Jersey, FAA investigates; no injuries reported
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after 11 commercial flights reported they were illuminated by lasers while flying over New Jersey.
The incidents occurred Wednesday between 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., the FAA said in a statement Thursday.
The lasers hit the left and right sides of the cockpits, along with the sides of the planes. There were no reports of injuries.
Lasers can distract or temporarily blind pilots. Pointing one at a plane is a federal crime.
The FAA says at least three of the incidents involved flights near Newark Liberty International Airport. Porter 141 was at 3,000 feet 15 miles southwest of the airport; American Airlines 1472 was 20 miles southwest; and American Airlines 966 was at 3,000 feet, 15 miles south of Newark.
Three flights were at 3,000 feet and were 4 miles south of the Outerbridge Crossing, which connects Perth Amboy to Staten Island, New York.
American Flight 348 was at 9,000 feet, headed to LaGuardia Airport.
Two flights were over Monmouth County. Republic Airlines 4643 was at 9,000 feet, bound for LaGuardia and United 330 was at 9,000 feet.
JetBlue Flight 2779 did not report its location, and one aircraft reported it was hit by a laser over Ocean City, the FAA said.
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