Written Reply by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung to Parliamentary Question on Number of Laser Strikes on Aircraft Arriving at or Departing from Singapore

Dr Tan Wu Meng asked the Minister for Transport 

a.     over the past three years, what has been the number of laser strikes on aircraft arriving at or departing from Singapore; and 

b.     how many of such incidents resulted in disruption to flight operations or required the pilot to seek medical attention.

Reply by Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung: 

1.     Over the past three years, CAAS has received 82 reports of laser lights being shone at aircraft landing at or taking off from our airports. Most of these appear to originate from outside Singapore. They can potentially distract or even cause injury to pilots. Fortunately, none of these incidents has resulted in disruptions to flight operations or pilots having to seek medical attention.

2.     CAAS takes a serious view of such activities. Any person convicted of such an offence may be fined up to S$20,000 for a first offence, and fined up to S$40,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 15 months for a subsequent offence.