Pilot landing at Boston Logan International Airport reported a laser being flashed at the plane

A pilot who was landing at Boston Logan International Airport Tuesday night reported that a green laser was flashed at the plane, according to FAA officials who are investigating the incident.

SkyWest Flight 3984, an Embraer 175, was traveling from Baltimore/Washington International Airport to Logan. As the plane was landing at around 9 p.m. on Tuesday, a green laser was apparently flashed at the aircraft.

"The pilot of SkyWest Flight 3984, an Embraer 175, reported being illuminated by a green laser near Boston Logan International Airport in Massachusetts around 9 p.m. local time Tuesday, May 9," the FAA said in a statement.

"The FAA notified local authorities and will investigate," the FAA added.

Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal offense, and the FAA can impose civil penalties up to $30,800 against people who commit multiple laser violations. It creates a serious safety risk to pilots, and may damage their vision.

The number of reported laser strikes has been jumping in recent years. In 2018, there were 5,663 laser incidents across the country. The FAA in 2021 received 9,723 laser strike reports from pilots, the highest number ever recorded by the agency. Last year, there were 9,457 incidents.

Between 2010 and 2021, Massachusetts had 505 reported laser incidents. California had the most reported incidents with 12,758.

The FAA cited several factors for the rise in incidents: the availability of inexpensive lasers; stronger power levels so lasers can hit aircraft at higher altitudes; green lasers, which are more visible to the human eye than red lasers; and greater awareness by pilots to report laser incidents.

SkyWest Airlines calls itself the largest regional airline in the world. The airline operates through partnerships with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines carrying more than 36 million passengers in 2021.

The FAA is urging people to report laser incidents, whether they are pilots, air traffic controllers or members of the public. People can report incidents at www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/report/laserinfo.

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