Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Another Long Island Idiot (Or Idiots) Hit Planes With A Laser Pointer Last Night


By

Emma Whitford

Published May 29, 2015

Modified Jul 24, 2017


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Emma Whitford

Published May 29, 2015

Modified Jul 24, 2017


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Someone, or some group of someones, pointed green laser beams at four commercial planes flying over Long Island last night.

The planes were flying at 8,000 feet a few miles northwest of Farmingdale, between 9:30 and 10:00 p.m., when pilots noticed the bright-green pointed rays, NBC reports. Three of the four planes—one American Airlines, one Shuttle America, two Delta—had recently taken off from JFK. No one was injured.

In the wake of the incident, WCBS 880 reported from Bethpage State Park in Long Island, where park police searched for the pointer(s). “I can’t understand why someone would do something like that,” one park-goer said. Neither can we.

Elehecer Balaguer of the Bronx recently pled guilty to shooting laser pointers at pilots flying in and out of LaGuardia in March, injuring their eyes and the eyes of the NYPD helicopter pilots who tracked him down. He faces up to five years in prison.

Tagged

blinding

laser pointers

long island

planes


Emma Whitford

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

Queens mother charged with murdering her son after failed suicide attempt, NYPD says

Sukken Wong, 62, allegedly stabbed her nonverbal son, Byran Wong, 25, to death.

By

Brittany Kriegstein

Published Oct 23, 2026 at 8:01 a.m. ET


Your guide to voting in New York's 2026 elections for governor and Congress

A primer on the races for governor, attorney general and the congressional districts that could help determine control of the U.S. House.

By

Walter Wuthmann

,

Jon Campbell

and

Brigid Bergin

News

Your guide to voting in New York's 2026 elections for governor and Congress

A primer on the races for governor, attorney general and the congressional districts that could help determine control of the U.S. House.

By

Walter Wuthmann

,

Jon Campbell

and

Brigid Bergin


Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors

By

Ryan Kost

NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal

By

Elizabeth Kim

NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting

By

Charles Lane


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .