U.S. Federal authorities have charged a 29-year-old man from Cheektowaga NY with aiming a laser at a Delta Airlines aircraft as it approached Buffalo Niagara International Airport on March 1. Joseph Crapsi allegedly targeted the plane with a green laser, causing significant concern for the safety of those onboard. The Delta pilot promptly reported the incident to Buffalo Air Traffic Control, stating that the laser illumination occurred one mile south of the airport’s approach and lasted for an unsettling duration of 60-90 seconds.
Following the report, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) police initiated a search in the vicinity of Genesee Street, Dick Road, and Cayuga Street in Cheektowaga but initially found no evidence of the perpetrator. The breakthrough came when Cheektowaga police were called to a residence on Nagel Drive due to a separate incident involving a laser being pointed into a neighbor’s home. Upon investigation, officers were granted entry by Crapsi’s parents, leading to the discovery of a laser pointer in his bedroom.
Additionally, a neighbor recounted a distressing experience of being blinded by a green laser shining through his kitchen window for approximately 15 minutes, during which he observed the laser being directed into the sky multiple times.
Crapsi has since made an initial federal court appearance and was released pending further proceedings. He faces serious charges for aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft, a federal offense that could result in a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. This incident underscores the dangers of laser interference with aviation, prompting authorities to act swiftly in ensuring the safety of air traffic and local residents.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, wkbw.com
