CINCINNATI -- More than 20 planes were targeted by laser strikes nationwide Wednesday night and one of the incidents happened in the Tri-State.
One of the laser strikes happened at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG.) CVG records show that pilots reported eight laser incidents last year.
Pilots on Delta Connection 3683 said they were hit with a laser while flying at about 9,000 feet, 11 miles west of CVG when they were hit by a beam.
The Indiana State Police were alerted to the incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration said even a small, store-bought laser can cause issues for planes and pilots.
Officials posted on Facebook about the issue. The agency said the beam is larger at altitude and can spread across the cockpit, potentially blinding pilots.
Nearly two dozen aircraft were hit by lasers last night. Shining a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime. It can harm...
Posted by Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday, November 12, 2015
If the perpetrator is found, they can face federal charges. The FAA said it pursues people who point lasers at planes vigorously.
Agents said they have taken reports of more than 5,000 laser strikes this year.
Anyone who sees a laser strike or knows of the activity is asked to call police.
The FAA stressed that the activity is not harmless and that pilots have suffered eye damage in some cases. It also puts the flights at risk.
