Five Arrests After Laser Pen Shone At Plane

18 September 2016, 11:58 | Updated: 18 September 2016, 12:00

Plane_window

Five people have been arrested after a laser pen was shone at an aircraft in Edinburgh.

Officers on patrol in the Drylaw area saw a green light emanating from Marine Drive just before midnight on Friday September 16.

Edinburgh Airport later told police a pilot reported seeing the laser during the aeroplane's descent.

The occupants of two vehicles on Marine Drive have been arrested in connection with the incident.

A 16-year-old male and four females aged 16, 17, 19 and 22 will appear in court at a later date.

Chief Inspector Mark Rennie said: ''The use of laser pens to distract or obscure the vision of a pilot is an extremely serious offence which can have very serious consequences.

''We regularly patrol roads below approach routes to deter offenders and respond quickly to any notifications from pilots.

''Anyone found committing this offence will be arrested and charged.''

The incident comes one week after a woman was blinded in one eye after an unknown attacker shone a laser pen in her pupil in Clydebank.