Summary
The FAA says pilots reported 4,470 laser strikes against aircraft in 2026, down 24% from the same point last year. The agency continues to warn that laser illumination can distract or temporarily blind pilots.
Pilots reported 4,470 laser strikes against aircraft to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration in 2026, a 24% decrease from the same point last year, according to an FAA update published on September 17. It is the third consecutive year in which reported laser strikes in the National Airspace System have fallen.
The FAA says its outreach and training with local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies has contributed to the decline. Reported strikes reached an all-time high of 13,304 in 2023, although the agency continues to describe the current level as too high because even a brief laser illumination can create a serious flight-safety hazard.
Contents
What the FAA reported
The FAA's figures come from pilot reports of laser strikes. From January through July 2026, the states with the highest reported totals were California with 614, Texas with 445, Florida with 232, Illinois with 224 and Tennessee with 202.
Washington recorded 199 reports, followed by Arizona with 178, Colorado with 166, Virginia with 136 and Georgia with 133. The FAA provides a visualization tool covering laser-strike data from 2010 to the present, with views organised by geographic area, time of day and year.
These reports describe incidents recorded by the FAA rather than a measurement of every laser illumination involving an aircraft. That distinction matters when interpreting changes over time, since reporting is part of the dataset.
Why laser illumination is dangerous
A laser beam remains concentrated over a much greater distance than many people may realise. When directed into the sky, a laser used in a home or holiday light display can reach an aircraft cockpit and distract or temporarily blind pilots.
The risk is especially serious during phases of flight that require sustained visual attention. A sudden bright light can interfere with a pilot's ability to see instruments, the surrounding airspace or the runway environment. The FAA's warning applies to laser-light displays as well as handheld lasers when their beams are aimed into the sky.
The agency says pilots have reported 322 injuries from laser strikes since it began tracking them in 2010. The injury figure covers reported cases in the FAA's tracking system.
Reporting and enforcement
Shining a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime in the United States. The FAA can impose fines of up to $11,000 per violation. Individuals may also face federal criminal penalties of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, in addition to state and local penalties.
The FAA encourages people to report laser strikes to both the agency and local law-enforcement authorities. It says detailed reports help identify patterns by location and time, supporting efforts to target outreach and enforcement.
The continuing decline is a positive change in the FAA's recorded data, but the remaining number of incidents still represents a recurring hazard for flight crews. The agency is urging the public to keep laser beams away from the sky, particularly during the holiday season when outdoor laser displays are more common.