* Christopher Bengel Arrested by San Jose Police For Allegedly Pointing Laser at Aircraft
Published by Junior Staff Writer on January 26, 2011
On 1/24/11, 6:36 p.m., the San Jose police received a report of a green laser beam striking a private aircraft over the area of Story Road and McLaughlin Avenue. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s helicopter was in service and responded to the area, at which time it too was struck with a green laser beam. The sheriff’s helicopter spotter suffered temporary flash blindness, but did not require medical attention
The sheriff’s helicopter pilot and spotter were able to isolate the location from which the beam originated and direct San Jose police ground units to the 1200 block of Pipe Dream Court, where Christopher Bengel, 24, of San Jose, was taken into custody. Bengel was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail on two counts of felonious interfering with an airborne aircraft. .
Technology has increased the brightness and effectiveness of handheld laser pointers and at the same time reducing the cost. These lasers have the ability to cause temporary and/or permanent vision damage. A handheld laser pointer was found in Bengal’s home at the time of his arrest.
Commercial, private, law enforcement, military and medical transport pilots have been getting struck with lasers while flying throughout the Santa Clara County Valley. The San Jose area is in the top five in the nation for frequency of laser strikes on aircraft. This number has been steady and, unfortunately, we have not seen a noticeable reduction.
The San Jose Police Department (SJPD), Airport Division, formed a Laser Strike Working Group (LSWG) with the assistance of the U. S. Federal Air Marshall. This group was formed in effort to reduce the frequencies of laser strikes on all aircraft, with the overall goal of completely eliminating them.
There are numerous law enforcement agencies, military and private sector pilots and organizations working together in the LSWG. There have been significant gains made throughout this last year since the Laser Strike Working Group was formed.
The help of the public is greatly needed in stopping this dangerous behavior. A pilot’s vision can be incapacitated from a laser strike, increasing the likelihood of a fatal plane crash. It is not uncommon for individuals who shine their laser at aircraft to also shine it at other objects, such as houses and motor vehicles.
If you know of someone doing this in your neighborhood, or a household where this is occurring, notify your local law enforcement agency so they can take appropriate action and/or conduct outreach and education. Our primary goal is to increase the safety of the skies throughout the Bay Area as well as citizens on the ground.
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