Pointing a laser at an aircraft poses a serious risk to the safety of those on board and also endangers citizens below if the plane should crash as a result. This warning comes from the Regina Police Service after multiple instances of laser strike on its Aerial Support Unit plane as well as other aircraft flying over the city.

A news release says there have been seven instances so far this year where there have been charges and five were laser strikes on the police Aerial Support Unit. Of the five, in January, a 34 year old man was charged with mischief over $5,000 and mischief endangering life after pointing a laser at the RPS plane. In all instances, there was a charge of mischief endangering life. In May, a 52 year old man was arrested and charged, followed by a 29 year old man in July, a 48 year old man on September 8th and most recently, on September 11th, the ASU was struck again and so was another aircraft. Two men, 38 and 31 are charged from those incidents. On August 7th, police arrested a 50 year old man in a laser strike incident not involving a police plane.

The Regina Police Service is aware of multiple other aircraft being hit with laser strikes and continues to investigate.