.
Feedback

South Shore Laser Pointer Damages Pilot's Eye

Authorities suspect laser came from West Islip, Babylon or Lindenhurst, according to a published report.

A person on the South Shore pointed a powerful laser beam at a plane flying just south of West Islip en route to JFK on Sunday, causing the pilot injuries to the eye, NYPost.com reported.

The JetBlue Flight 657 from Syracuse was flying Westward along the South Shore when two bursts of green lights were fired into the cockpit. A captain assumed control over the vessel after the pilot was temporarily blinded, according to the Post report.

“We just got lasered up here - two green flashes into the cockpit,” the captain radioed controllers at Ronkonkoma, the Post reported.

The pilot of the airliner - identified by the Post as Robert Pemberton, 52 - was treated at a hospital for injuries to both eyes, after the beam flashed in the cockpit.

Pemberton's eyesight wasn't permananetly damaged, according to reports.

Authorities believe the beam came from around West Islip, Babylon or Lindenhurst.

FBI agents request that anyone with information call the agency at 212-384-1000.

The suspect could face federal charges, just like the in December.

Read the full report here.

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from West Islip Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Loading comments ...
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
West Islip Resident May 18, 2013 at 07:23 pm
You can thank all these POS politicians for the new gun legislation designed to make law abidingRead More citizens give up their second amendment rights out of sheer frustration and incontinence of owning a gun legally for increases in savage on citizen violence. This is only the beginning and in short time many New Yorker's will be forced to remain in their homes fearing one of these animals will make them their pray. I for one believe in the old adage, it's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
ARNOLD MERKITCH May 17, 2013 at 07:34 pm
WREATH LAYING FOR 9/11 BEAM WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 11AM ON 5/2713
West Islip Resident May 17, 2013 at 09:06 am
Has anyone been able to find out if we are losing money renting this building to this for profitRead More preschool? If I under stood correctly from previous post's, there may be some friendship with one or more BOE members which paved the way for their lease.
Craig Miller May 18, 2013 at 10:10 am
I think Proposition 2 is a great idea, in the current structure you have to "call out" anRead More individual basically saying "I think you are doing a particularly bad job". Politics get dirty enough as is and I think this will increase participation and ultimately give us a better Board of Education.
Nomo Bigelow May 15, 2013 at 11:16 pm
Why didn't the author run for the open seat this year? Bark of a wolf and courage of a lamb.