Don't point lasers at airplanes, province warns after Swift Current incident

RCMP are investigating after someone pointed a laser at a government of Saskatchewan air ambulance this week, near Swift Current.

It happened around11 p.m. CST,Tuesdaynight, according to a government spokesperson.

A patient was aboard the twin-engined plane, which had just taken off from Swift Current.It was still climbingwhen it was hit with a green laser for between 15 and 20 seconds, the pilots reported.

The light apparently came from somewhere west of Swift Current and north of the Trans-Canada Highway.RCMP and air traffic control were notified.

Laser lights can temporarilyblindpilots and such incidents, whereair ambulance flights are endangered,aretaken very seriously, agovernment spokesman said.

The pilots were able to continue on to their destination safely.

"This is a very significant risk to aviation safety," Jim Thompson, director of flight operations for the service, said Thursday. "It can cause injury to the pilots, momentary confusion, a glare on the windscreen. These incidents are not taken lightly."

The government hasrepeated warnings to the public thatpeople should notpoint lasers at aircraft.

"[Incidents] have been continuing to increase over the past several years," Thompson added. "I don't know why people want to do that, but it is a danger to safety."