Virgin Atlantic flight turned back to Heathrow after a Laser incident

Virgin Atlantic flight VS025 heading to New York was turned back to London Heathrow , at 20:13 GMT on Sunday February 14, 2016, after a ‘laser beam incident. A crew member is recorded saying to Irish air traffic control that they had a ‘medical issue with one of the pilots after a laser incident after take-off.

The plane carrying 252 passengers and 15 crew on board and were offered overnight accommodation and will continue their journey as soon as possible. A new law introduced in 2010 means people could be charged with ‘shining a light at an aircraft in flight so as to dazzle the pilot.’ In the UK there are 414 laser incidents reported to the Civil Aviation Authority between January and Une 2015, 48 from London Heathrow Airport.