US-bound plane turns back to UK after laser attack

A passenger plane heading from London to New York turned back late Sunday night after a laser beam was pointed at the cockpit, causing a medical emergency.

The Virgin Atlantic Flight VS025 made a safe return landing at London’s Heathrow Airport, and the flight was tentatively scheduled to restart its journey to JFK early on Monday afternoon.

A clip from air traffic control communication with the plane indicated that one of the pilots faced a “medical issue” after the laser beam was directed at the plane soon after take-off, and it turned back to Heathrow as a “precautionary measure,” Britain’s Sky News reported. “We have a medical issue with one of the pilots,” a voice in the cockpit is heard saying.

“It is believed the laser obscured the First Officer’s vision,” Sky said. “In the sound clip posted by LiveATC.net, an official is heard saying: ‘The other pilot is able to perform his duties.’,” it reported.

British police were investigating the incident.

Illustrative: Virgin Atlantic airplane (Courtesy)

Sky said some passengers had complained that their luggage was not unloaded for their unexpected extra night in the UK. It quoted Virgin Atlantic USA saying: “The safety of our crew and customers is our top priority and we apologize for any inconvenience to those onboard.”

Last November, in a similar incident, a green laser was beamed at a Virgin America Flight as it headed in to land at JFK. The plane made a safe landing.

In the US, pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime, CNN reported last year. “As handheld lasers are becoming more common, such incidents of laser-pointing have been on the rise. As of October 16, the total number of laser strikes in the United States this year (2015) was 5,352, the FAA said. Last year, there were 3,894, and in 2005, there were 283.”