Laser-Crazy: TikTok Users Shine Pointers at Passenger Jet at National Pyrotechnics Festival
At the National Pyrotechnics Festival in Mexico, a shocking video emerged of dozens of people shining laser pointers at a passenger jet flying overhead. The festival, which takes place in Tultepec just north of Mexico City, attracts around 100,000 attendees every year. Despite it being illegal to shine lasers at aircraft in most countries including Mexico, the incident went unnoticed until a video was posted on TikTok.
The footage shows a green laser beam aimed at a passenger plane flying overhead with about a dozen other laser pointers joining in. A drone is also seen amidst the laser beams. Although it’s unclear which airline was operating the plane, it appeared to be approaching Felipe Ángeles International Airport, the secondary airport in Mexico City.
Shining lasers at aircraft is punishable by up to five years in prison in the United States. Incidents involving laser strikes on airplanes have increased significantly in recent years with the Federal Aviation Administration reporting over 13,000 reports from pilots last year representing a 41% increase from 2022.
The FAA issued a reminder that such incidents endanger lives and are federal crimes following an incident where a man in Buffalo, New York was charged with aiming a laser pointer at a Delta Air Lines jet. Joseph Crapsi could face five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. The video on TikTok showing people shining lasers at the passenger jet garnered over 30 million views and prompted criticism from viewers who questioned the legality and safety of the act.
