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Dangerous laser attacks on air ambulance helicopters must stop say regulator and charity

Published:
Category:
aviation safety

At a glance:

  • Laser attacks occur every month – disrupting critical medical care and potentially blinding pilots
  • Pilots warn it could result in a catastrophic incident
  • Attacks are a criminal offence with a five-year prison sentence 
  • Warnings come during UK Air Ambulance Week  

Emergency Air Ambulances fly over 135 flights a day in the UK, saving thousands of lives. Yet every month these critical care helicopters are dangerously targeted by lasers being aimed from the ground at night. The UK Civil Aviation Authority and the Air Ambulances UK charity have joined forces during Air Ambulance Week to call for these potentially catastrophic attacks to stop. 

Every air ambulance flight represents someone’s worst day, a medical emergency that requires speed, precision, and concentration from the crew. Deliberate and reckless laser attacks not only endanger the pilot and the safety of the helicopter, but can delay emergency critical care for patients who depend on these services throughout the UK. 

In 2025 there were 94 cases of emergency helicopters being attacked. For the first half of 2026 the figure is 35. Shining a high-intensity laser directly at a helicopter can cause temporary blindness and distraction to pilots, and even long-term eye damage. As most air ambulances operate with only one pilot this is a significant safety risk.  

Air ambulance charities have a small number of pilots. If they cannot fly due to their eyes being damaged by a laser, then it reduces the helicopter’s availability for critical care flights. 

Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Chief Pilot, Matt Wilcock, said: “If you see or hear a helicopter there’s a good chance it’s an air ambulance delivering critical care. So, targeting one of these with a laser could result in you or your family not getting the emergency help we provide. 

“Most winters I suffer at least one or two laser attacks. At night they are exceptionally startling and distracting and can damage my eyes, potentially resulting in a catastrophic accident.” 

Anyone found guilty of targeting an aircraft with a laser could go to prison for five years or face an unlimited fine.  

Richard Miller, Safety and Operations Manager at Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance added: “The cameras and tracking equipment fitted to helicopters are so sophisticated that we can see where the laser is being shone from and alert the police. So, anyone targeting a helicopter with a laser must realise that they may well be caught and go to prison.”  

Glenn Bradley, Head of Flight Operations at the UK CAA said: “These attacks need to stop. Every month we see these vital flights potentially disrupted and their pilots subject to long-lasting eye damage. Everyone must recognise that this is totally unacceptable.”