UK CAA and charity call for end to laser attacks on air ambulance helicopters
The UK Civil Aviation Authority and the charity Air Ambulances UK have jointly called for an end to laser attacks on air ambulance helicopters during UK Air Ambulance Week. Such attacks occur every month and can cause temporary blindness, distraction and even long-term eye damage to pilots; because most air ambulances operate with a single pilot, the risk is significant and critical patient care can be delayed. There were 94 attacks on emergency helicopters in 2025 and 35 in the first half of 2026. Targeting an aircraft with a laser is a criminal offence carrying up to five years in prison or an unlimited fine.
Impact and considerations
Laser attacks directly threaten the safety and availability of UK air ambulance operations; with single-pilot crewing, eye injury to a pilot reduces critical-care flight capacity. For aviation operators this is a safety issue requiring night-operations risk management and crew protection; onboard cameras and tracking…
Key points
- The UK Civil Aviation Authority and Air Ambulances UK jointly called for an end to laser attacks on air ambulance helicopters during UK Air Ambulance Week.
- Such attacks occur every month; high-intensity lasers aimed from the ground at night can cause temporary blindness, distraction and even long-term eye damage to pilots.
- Most air ambulances operate with only one pilot, so if a pilot cannot fly due to eye damage, helicopter availability for critical-care flights is reduced.
- There were 94 attacks on emergency helicopters in 2025 and 35 in the first half of 2026.
- Targeting an aircraft with a laser is a criminal offence carrying up to five years in prison or an unlimited fine; onboard cameras and tracking equipment can locate the laser source and alert police.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- UK Civil Aviation Authority
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 10 Sept 2026, 08:00
- Page published
- 11 Sept 2026, 00:10
- Last updated
- 10 Sept 2026, 08:00
- Original links
- UK CAA News：Dangerous laser attacks on air ambulance helicopters must stop say regulator and charity | UK Civil Aviation Authority (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 10 Sept 2026, 08:00