About 10:45pm, crew on board a fixed-wing police aircraft were conducting aerial patrols when it will be alleged a high-powered green laser was aimed at the aircraft. The laser was directed at the plane for
approximately three to four seconds, forcing crews to take immediate evasive action.
Using on-board infrared technology, crews traced the source of the laser and directed ground units to a house in East Cannington, where the man was taken into custody. A search of the property was
conducted, and police will further allege a laser pointer was located and seized.
A 39-year-old East Cannington man has been charged with:
• Cause Fear or Alarm with a Laser to People in a Conveyance
• Possession of a Controlled Weapon
He has been bailed to appear before the Armadale Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 11 November 2025.
Laser strikes on aircraft pose a significant safety risk. They have the potential to impair crew vision, cause disorientation, and result in temporary or permanent loss of vision, which can seriously compromise
flight safety or bring down an aircraft.
WA Police have the technology and capability to identify anyone who targets aircraft with lasers. These acts are reckless and dangerous, and those responsible will be arrested and prosecuted to the full extent
of the law.
It is an offence under the Criminal Code to direct a laser at an aircraft. A conviction carries penalties of up to $36,000 in fines and/or imprisonment for a term of up to seven years.
