GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Federal officials are investigating after a pilot landing at Gerald R. Ford International Airport reported a laser pointed at his plane around midnight Sunday.
Ford Airport spokeswoman Tara Hernandez confirmed Monday that the pilot, flying for a commercial airline, notified the control tower that a green laser was pointed at the plane.
Another plane slated to land behind that aircraft also radioed control tower works to say he saw the laser pointed at the first plane, Hernandez said.
A Kentwood police officer was dispatched to the area of 44th Street and Breton Avenue SE, where the pilot thought the laser originated. Nothing was found, Hernandez said.
Officials notified the Transportation Security Administration and the FBI, as is standard when such incidents occur.
It was the only incident reported recently, despite some initial reports indicating it has occurred multiple times over the past several weeks.
Still, the problem has proliferated on the national level. Last year, there were 3,482 reported incidents of lasers pointed at planes, according to USA Today.
That's down from 3,581 reports in 2011, but well above 1,527 incidents in 2009.
Because of this, federal authorities last year said they were eyeing stiffer penalties for people who point lasers at planes.
Any laser can be problematic or even dangerous for pilots. Green lasers especially are worrisome, because they produce the most intense beam.
People who run afoul of the law face an $11,000 civil penalty. Repeat offenders could face fines of up to $30,800 under rules announced in 2012.
Because the lasers can temporarily blind pilots, the stiffest federal penalties run upwards of $250,000 and up to 20 years in prison.
Zane McMillin is a government, weather and breaking news reporter for MLive.com and The Grand Rapids Press. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.