Two men in their 20s have been arrested on suspicion of endangering an aircraft after a police helicopter was targeted with a laser in Stoke-on-Trent. The incident occurred around 8.50pm on Tuesday, when the aircraft was supporting ground colleagues in a search operation over Northwood.
Police community support officers in the area were able to track down the suspects within 15 minutes, and they were later joined by police officers. A laser device was recovered, and the men remain in custody for questioning.
Staffordshire Police confirmed the arrests, stating: 'Two young men in their early 20s have been arrested by police on suspicion of endangering an aircraft this evening. A laser has been recovered and the men will remain in custody and be questioned by police.'
The National Police Air Service has previously raised concerns about the rising number of laser attacks on aircraft. In February, operations director Ollie Dismore warned that such actions, which can cause temporary blindness or lasting eye damage, are not harmless fun and can lead to prison sentences.
Last year, 1,800 laser incidents on UK aircraft were reported to the Civil Aviation Authority. Heathrow Airport has been the worst affected, with Birmingham Airport also heavily targeted. In August, a British Airways flight from Bergen was targeted by a green laser during its final descent into Heathrow.
