LAX97IA056

The aircraft was on a visual approach when a bright blue light shone through the right cabin window and into the captain's right eye. The captain reported that as he continued the fight, his ability to see became difficult due to burning and tearing. By the time the flight was on final approach, he was experiencing so much discomfort that he relinquished the controls to the first officer, who landed the aircraft. A medical examination revealed multiple flash burns to the captain's right cornea. Further examination by Air Force specialists revealed no permanent eye damage. Investigators were unable to locate the source of the laser light. There were no NOTAMs for laser light activity at the time of the incident.

On November 29, 1996, about 1850 hours Pacific standard time, the captain on Skywest Airlines flight 5410 sustained an eye injury when he was illuminated by what is believed to be a laser beam during an approach to Los Angeles, California. The aircraft, an Embraer EMB-120 ER, N291SW, was operated by Skywest Airlines, Inc., as a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight under 14 CFR Part 135 when the incident occurred. The flight originated in Bakersfield, California, at 1825 on the evening of the incident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the assigned altitude and an IFR flight plan was filed.

The aircraft was level at 6,000 feet msl on a right base for a visual approach to runway 24R. The pilot was looking for downwind traffic through the right cabin window when he was struck in his right eye by a bright blue beam of light. According to a transcript of the cockpit voice recorder, the captain immediately remarked "What the (expletive) is that?" The first officer replied "A light, on the ground. A (expletive) laser." The captain then remarked, "It almost blinded me in my right eye." The captain reported that as the flight continued it became difficult for him to see from that eye due to increased burning and tearing. By the time the flight was established on final approach, the captain was experiencing so much discomfort that he relinquished the controls to the first officer who completed the landing.

After landing, the captain advised Los Angeles ground control and Skywest dispatch of the incident and then requested medical attention. His medical examination at Centinela Hospital revealed multiple flash burns to his right cornea. The captain estimated they had been in the vicinity of the Hollywood Hills when he encountered the light.

The captain was also examined by the staff at the Visual Psychophysics Branch, Armstrong Laboratory, Brooks AFB, Texas. Their examination revealed no evidence of permanent effects from the exposure.

Investigators from the FDA were notified and attempted, without success, to locate the source of the beam. According to the FAA, there were no NOTAMs in effect for laser light activity in the Los Angeles area at the time of the incident.