Pilots in the United States reported 10,994 laser strikes to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2025, a 14 percent decrease from the previous year. Despite this decline, officials emphasize that the number remains concerning.
Shining a laser at an aircraft is considered a significant safety risk and is classified as a federal crime. The FAA responded by conducting outreach and training sessions with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies throughout 2025, focusing efforts on regions with higher incident rates.
“Laser strikes are decreasing, thanks to a strong pilot reporting culture that is providing the data we need for community engagement and work with local law enforcement,” said Ben Supko, Associate Administrator, Security and Intelligence Organization. “But even one laser strike is too many when pilots have hundreds of lives in their hands.”
The highest numbers of reported incidents occurred in California (1,309), Texas (1,100), Florida (654), Illinois (620), Arizona (574), Washington (484), Tennessee (431), Indiana (370), New York (369), and Virginia (353).
Laser beams can temporarily incapacitate pilots operating aircraft carrying numerous passengers. Since tracking began in 2010, pilots have reported 337 injuries related to laser strikes.
Individuals found guilty of directing lasers at aircraft face FAA fines up to $11,000 per violation. They may also be subject to federal criminal penalties including up to five years in prison and fines reaching $250,000. Additional penalties may apply under state or local laws.
The FAA encourages citizens to report any observed laser strikes both to its agency and local law enforcement. Comprehensive reports assist authorities in identifying patterns related to location and timing.
For further information on trends by region or time period since 2010, the FAA provides an online visualization tool that displays national laser-strike data.
