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YahooNews: Man Charged With Aiming Laser at Aircraft

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by GRENDEL, Jan 4, 2005.

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  1. GRENDEL

    GRENDEL Member

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    By WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press Writer

    NEWARK, N.J. - A man who initially claimed his daughter aimed a laser at a helicopter was charged after he told federal agents that he pointed the light beam at two aircraft, authorities said Tuesday.



    David Banach of Parsippany faces charges of interfering with the operator of a mass transportation vehicle and making false statements to the FBI (news - web sites). He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court on Tuesday afternoon.


    The aircraft were targeted by the lasers near Teterboro Airport.


    On Wednesday night, a pilot preparing to land a chartered jet with 13 people aboard reported seeing three green laser beams about 11 miles from the airport. On Friday, a helicopter carrying Port Authority detectives was hit by a beam as they surveyed the area in an attempt to pinpoint the origin of the original beams.


    The two incidents were among a rash of recent reports of lasers allegedly aimed at aircraft, raising fears that the light beams could temporarily blind crew members and lead to accidents. Last month the FBI and the Homeland Security Department sent a memo to law enforcement agencies saying there is evidence that terrorists have explored using lasers as weapons, though federal law enforcement officials have said there is no evidence of any terrorist plot in the current incidents.


    According to court papers, under questioning Banach admitted lying and said he shined a laser beam at both the jet and the helicopter. He has not been charged in the helicopter incident.


    His lawyer, Gina Mendola-Longarzo, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Tuesday.


    The chartered jet was flying at about 3,000 feet when the pilot and co-pilot saw a green laser beam strike the windshield three times, according to court documents filed Tuesday. The flash blinded the two temporarily, but they were later able to land the plane safely.


    After the helicopter crew also reported seeing laser beams, FBI agents canvassed Banach's neighborhood trying. Banach told the agents it was his daughter who shined a beam at the helicopter, according to court papers.

    He denied the laser was in use when the jet had passed nearby. But later, Banach submitted to a lie detector test and eventually said he shined the laser beam at both aircraft, according to the court papers. The papers did not give any alleged motive.

    http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm...=/ap/20050104/ap_on_re_us/laser_beam_aircraft
     
    #1 GRENDEL, Jan 4, 2005
  2. across110thstreet

    across110thstreet Member

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    this seems to be happening in more than one city: houston and cleveland as well...:eek:
     
    #2 across110thstreet, Jan 4, 2005
  3. ROXRAN

    ROXRAN Member

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    Nashville too..., when will these idiots learn?
     
    #3 ROXRAN, Jan 4, 2005
  4. Dream Sequence

    Dream Sequence Member

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    Seroiusly, why would you do this? This could only lead to murder if a plane crashes/
     
    #4 Dream Sequence, Jan 4, 2005
  5. codell

    codell Member

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    #5 codell, Jan 4, 2005
  6. m_cable

    m_cable Member

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    #6 m_cable, Jan 4, 2005
  7. RocketMan Tex

    RocketMan Tex Member

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    People who do this are as stupid as people who fire guns into the air on New Years Eve.
     
    #7 RocketMan Tex, Jan 5, 2005
  8. dean

    dean Member

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    wow i thought that was just local news. i live in parsippany, and it seems that guy is just some average joe who is harmless
     
    #8 dean, Jan 5, 2005
  9. SamCassell

    SamCassell Member

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    Those green lasers are sweet, way more range and power than the typical hand-helds.
     
    #9 SamCassell, Jan 5, 2005
  10. Surfguy

    Surfguy Member

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    I agree...guy is a dumbass. He deserves the maximum penalty because...whatever his intentions were...they were not good. Plus, we need to set an example for all the other laser pointing freaks out there. Do this and you will go to prison for a long time.

    Everyone knows lasers can blind people if shined in their eyes...either temporarily or permanently. There is just no excuse for doing this on purpose. If we he was setting up a laser mirror system and it happened by accident, then okay. But, this guy is outside purposely shining lasers at planes and helicopters...as if it is the thing to do. "Hey...look at me...I can shine a laser at a plane's cockpit."

    Go to jail and do not collect $200.
     
    #10 Surfguy, Jan 5, 2005
  11. PhiSlammaJamma

    PhiSlammaJamma Member

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    How else are you going to kill count dooku, clearly the republic failed when they were tailing his ass, and had a straight shot at him, but never took it. Now the sith are back in control. This guy was just trying to do his part to secure safety for the universe.
     
    #11 PhiSlammaJamma, Jan 5, 2005
  12. wouldabeen23

    wouldabeen23 Member

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    Reminds me of the Tom Clancy book--I think it was "Debt of Honor" where the U.S. got into a small scale war with Japan after one their Japanese Airliners struck the Capital building during a Joint session of the House and Senate and the president speaking. They naturally killed everyone except for...you guessed it, Jack Ryan.

    Anyway, the Japanese have an advanced new airborne radar system that they use to intercept U.S. aircraft long before they can range the Japanese defenses. We get an operative into Japan who uses a very powerful "Light Bazooka" to blind the Japanese pilots on take off, literally burning their retinas and they crash on takeoff--destroying the aircraft and the new fangled radar.

    Kinda plausible now....scary
     
    #12 wouldabeen23, Jan 5, 2005
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