Pilot reports laser strike during LAX landing

6/20/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS

Editor‘‍s note: This version corrects that the plane was landing at LAX.

LOS ANGELES  — The Federal Aviation Administration says a pilot reported visual impairment after a laser struck an airliner landing at Los Angeles International Airport.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor says the laser strike occurred early Wednesday as US Airways Flight 674 was just east of Santa Monica at 9,000 feet.

The Airbus A321 was arriving from Phoenix.

Earlier this month, the FBI began offering rewards of $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of anyone who threatens aircraft in a laser attack.

In 2013 the FAA reported nearly 4,000 laser strikes.

In March a 26-year-old man was sentenced to 14 years in prison after being convicted of shining a laser pointer at a Fresno police helicopter and a hospital helicopter.