powerful laser light from the ground causes a flight from Heathrow to turn back

The frequency of this sort of incident has got a lot worse over the last 10 years.  At 8,000 ft (2,440 metres) this one would have had to be a military grade laser and thus makes you wonder whether Muslims are behind it.

A Virgin Atlantic flight to New York was forced to turn back to Heathrow after a laser was shone into the cockpit while it flew at 8,000 ft.

The pilot declared a medical emergency about an hour into the flight when his co-pilot was taken ill. Scotland Yard was today hunting the source of the attack, which took place a few miles west of Heathrow last night.

Virgin Atlantic said the plane returned to the airport as a “precautionary measure” and the airline was helping police try to identify the suspect.

A Virgin spokeswoman said the safety of the crew and customers who had been on board Flight VS025 travelling to JFK airport had been a “top priority.”

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