FBI Probes Laser Beam Directed at Cockpit

[bin.dare]

this has all the hallmarks of a makey-uppy harum scarum story, but they seem to be occuring more frequently. why?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-4700798,00.html
Thursday December 30, 2004 2:01 AM

CLEVELAND (AP) - Authorities are investigating a mysterious laser beam that was directed into the cockpit of a commercial jet traveling at more than 8,500 feet.

The beam appeared Monday when the plane was about 15 miles from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, the FBI said.

``It was in there for several seconds like (the plane) was being tracked,'' FBI agent Robert Hawk said.

The pilot was able to land the plane, and air traffic controllers used radar to determine the laser came from a residential area in suburban Warrensville Heights.

Hawk said the laser had to have been fairly sophisticated to track a plane traveling at that altitude. Authorities had no other leads, and are investigating whether the incident was a prank or if there was a more sinister motive.

[shraby]

1. One question.....

how in the hell did anyone shoot a laser beam into the cockpit of an airplane unless that person was on a level with or above the plane? If they were below the plane, the laser beam would have to bend to go into the plane.

[crispini]

2. A shallow angle?

I dunno. All I know is this is the third or fourth of these I've heard about, and I'm SURE it's terrorists. :scared:

I never, ever wanna fly again....

[gardenista]

5. That's what I'm thinking. nt

[Career Prole]

3. A prank? With a laser

"fairly sophisticated to track a plane traveling at that altitude"?
How sophisticated need it be...anyone know?
Could it have been some freeper's 10 year-old playing with the laser sight Uncle Daddy bought for him for Christmas?

[lonestarnot]

4. Well I have a laser pointer that shoots a scorpion on walls, guess I'm a

terrorist.:evilgrin:

[Rose Siding]

6. more discussion here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1107446&mesg_id=1107446

[droidamus]

7. Lasers?

I'm no expert on lasers, but is it common for everyday people to have lasers that will shoot 8500 feet into the air and track an object that is traveling who knows how fast? Doesn't sound like the kind of toy Little Johnny would have. Also how big would a laser that could do this have to be? Just asking.

[Must_B_Free]

8. Nephi 13

“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

[reprobate]

9. As I said on the other thread, it has to be US air force airborn laser.

Anyone remember last year or so the pentagon was touting this. It was even on the network evening news. It's mounted on air force 747 and the laser is on gimble at the nose. Designed to knock down ICBMs it's part of the missle defence system.

If this has happened more than once it could mean they are practicing to knock down airliners. They must have used a targetting laser, cause the main laser is for destroying missles, so it *could* destroy airliners.

Logicly, in order for a laser to lite up the cockpit it could not be ground based, but would have to be airborn. I would guess that by taking out several airliners at a time they will blame it on a coordinated terror attack. Don't believe it! This will be nothing but another MIHOP that will be blamed on terra just like 9/11.

God, I can remember when you could believe what the gov't told you. Shows you how old I am.

[EC]

10. I was thinking more like satellites

Anyone put up any new satellites lately? Or maybe Star-Wars, since they are trying out the new defense system?

[LiberalFighter]

11. They used radar to tracked the location of the laser??

[Zenlitened]

12. Special, magical, photon-detecting radar.

:tinfoilhat:

[LiberalFighter]

13. Do they wear tin-foil hats?

[MissB]

14. See the other thread about this.

Someone explained it.

[Thor_MN]

15. Track Schmack. If you are on the planes path

there is very little relative movement while the plane approaches. If you are to the side, it would be relatively harder to track, but think about how big jets just seem to hang there in the sky at times.

Granted it would be hard to aim precisely enough, how would you know if you are on target? But to hit it for several seconds if the plane is approaching on a direct line? No big deal. If you could place a laser where the glide slope intersects the ground, it would be a Popeil "Set it and forget it!!"

You would have to have a powerful enough laser that they would konw that you are aiming at them though, I seriously doubt that a laser pointer or laser level is going to be noticed at well over a mile and half unless they were looking for it.

[w4rma]

16. A good way to bring down a plane and have it blamed on "bad weather". (nt)

[MercutioATC]

17. Do NOT let this get into the 9/11 Forum here at DU!

I think the idea of a laser-tracking radar will create a critical mass and all of DU will become a tinfoil-encrusted cinder.