Laser beam shone into aircraft over Eskasoni prompts investigation

A two-seater aircraft was forced to return to Sydney's J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport on Friday morning when the pilot's vision was impaired by a laser beam, say Nova Scotia RCMP.

Police says the Diamond DA20 aircraft was flying over Eskasoni on a trip from Sydney to Moncton at around 2 a.m., when a laser beam was aimed at the cockpit three times.

The pilot then turned back to the Sydney airport.

Police patrolled the area where the beams were thought to have originated, but couldn't find any suspects, they said.

"This is an extremely serious offence," Cpl. Greg Church said in a statement.

"We want to remind citizens that the maximum penalty for aiming a laser at a cockpit is $100,000, five years in prison or both, under the Aeronautics Act."