Laser pointed at Coast Guard helicopter

The Coast Guard is asking for the public’s help in finding the person responsible for lighting up one of its helicopters with a green laser.

MH-65 Dolphin helicopter was hit on final approach in Port Angeles on Monday. The crew landed safely about 8:30 p.m.

The crew was checked out and medically and cleared to resume duty about two hours later.

"These types of incidents can be very dangerous to the safety of our aircrews and disrupts our ability to respond as a search and rescue asset," said Cmdr. Mark Hiigel, commanding officer, Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles. "We need the general public to understand that the dangers of playing with green laser lights goes beyond medical risks to our aircrews, it places all mariners at risk due to delayed response times should they become in distress."

In 2014, Washington State Patrol showed video of a green light flooding the cockpit of their planes flying over Interstate 56 in Pierce County.

Troopers were able to use GPS to track down that suspect. KIRO 7 reporter Kevin McCarty explains below.

Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a felony crime carrying a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Anyone with information about Monday’s case is encouraged to contact investigators at 206-220-7170.

Cox Media Group