Plane Lands Safely In Kolkata After Laser Beam Disoriented Pilot

The pilot of Malaysia Airlines flight MH-184, carrying 159 passengers, was hit by a laser beam in Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The pilot needed to make a circle and come back down to the ground safely later.

Airport sources say the incident happened around 11:20 p.m. on Saturday. The light from Madhyamgram-Barasat side made an impact in the cockpit just over eight nautical miles from the runway with Kuala Lumpur to Kolkata. This light beam confused the pilot.

The pilot was forced to land at 11.25 pm, after becoming entangled in the laser-light incident, while it was scheduled to land at 11.20 pm.

The airline informed the officials at the airport and they went to the Airport Police Station, NSCBI, according to the sources.

It is forbidden to use laser lights near the airport. This incident is an example which should be taken seriously and these type of incidents had took place occasionally in past as well. The move might affect the operations of the airlines, the airport’s top official told PTI.

The police authorities are further investigating the case.