[skyman]

If this is true it is very serious.

I believe the P-3 pilot received injuries that permanently injured his eye site. If this new incident happened in U.S. this could be a real threat.

[Robe]

It wasn't a P-3 pilot , it was a observer on a Coast Guard Chopper that was directed to inspect a Soviet cargo ship ( a known spy ship) entering Pudget Sound shortly after the arrival of a US Boomer.
The Observer suffered burns to his eyes from a laser directed at him when he was photographing the ship.
Subsequent inspection of the ship (after many days of diplomatic haggling) was twarthed by the crew refusing to open spaces and voids that were newly welded shut.
The Clinton Admin let it slide..
The US Observer has retired from the service with permanent eye damage.
What we need to know here is .... Who , what ,where ,how ... was the A/c airborne? was it at cruse? Approach?