‘Extremely reckless’: Laser directed at Navy helicopter sparks probe

The chief pilot of the Royal Navy Merlin chopper reported the beam was directed at them during a low altitude training exercise.

Gianni Marini

21st Oct 2021

A laser directed at a Royal Navy helicopter while it hovered off the coast “distracted the flight crew from their duties” and could have been “catastrophic”.

Police are hunting those involved in the “extremely reckless” incident which saw the Merlin chopper targetted at around 11.15pm on Monday, October 4.

The four personnel were conducting a training exercise, hovering at a low altitude over the sea off Stevenston in North Ayrshire.

The chief pilot reported a laser was pointed at the aircraft which temporarily distracted personnel from their duties, police said.

PC Mackie, of the Three Towns Locality Policing Team, said: “Use of a laser pen in this manner is extremely reckless and this incident could have been catastrophic for the aircraft and crew of four on board.

“We would like to remind people that matters such as this are taken very seriously by both Police Scotland and Scottish Courts Service.”

Police said the pilot noted the laser beam to have come from the Stevenston Point area.

PC Mackie urged anyone who may have any information about the incident to contact him at Saltcoats Police Officer by calling 101 and quoting incident 3910 of October 4.