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Laser From North Seattle Area Pointed At Landing Plane

Posted: 7:02 am PDT June 19, 2009Updated: 8:30 am PDT June 19, 2009

Police are investigating yet another laser-pointing incident after someone shined a laser at a landing airplane's cockpit.

The FAA said an airliner on approach to Sea-Tac Airport was "contacted multiple times" by a green laser beam at about 10:15 p.m. Thursday.

Police said the beam hit the plane, a Boeing 737, about 20 times.

Authorities believe the laser originated from a neighborhood between Northgate and Lake City.

Shortly after midnight, KIRO News crews saw at least two Seattle Police units patrolling in the area of Northeast 105th Street and 35th Avenue Northeast, not far from Nathan Hale High School.

Washington State Patrol aircraft video from similar incidents showed how the laser may have looked from the view of the approaching airplane's cockpit.

It's a federal crime to interfere with the crew of an aircraft, including dazzling the pilots with a laser beam.

In a worst case scenario, the laser could render a pilot less able to make a safe landing at night.

Seattle Police said they have not yet found the person responsible and ask that anyone who has any information on the incident is asked to call authorities.

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