Update:
Man Accused Of Pointing Laser At Aircraft To Be Charged
UPDATED: 1:10 am EST January 4, 2005
NEW YORK -- NewsChannel 4 has learned that federal charges will be filed Tuesday against a man who allegedly pointed a laser at a Port Authority helicopter in the skies over New Jersey.
David Banach was allegedly caught on New Year's Eve with a device that emits a powerful green laser. The investigation began last week after a pilot reported the laser flashing into his cockpit three times just minutes before landing at Teterboro Airport.
Banach's defense lawyer said the accused man will surrender to the FBI Tuesday, but she insists her client did nothing wrong.
Sources told NewsChannel 4 that Banach will be charged in connection with the laser incident, and he will also face a second count for allegedly lying to FBI agents who questioned him.
Banach said he was using the laser to point out stars to his 7-year-old daughter, and a short time later, police arrived at his door. He said he had nothing to do with the Wednesday incident in which the pilot complained about the laser.
Similar reports have been made by several pilots from New Jersey to Colorado in recent weeks. Officials said none of the cases have been linked to terrorism, but officials worry that a laser could temporarily blind a pilot in flight.
Banach's lawyer said the father of three has never tried to harm anyone, and he will fight to clear his name.
http://www.wnbc.com/news/4044726/detail.html
I wonder if he can explain to us how the laser light showed up against the sky if it's clear enough to see stars. I thought there had to be a reflective surface, which would indicate a level of scattering in the atmosphere that's not conducive to star-gazing.
Thanks for the update.
There's actually another update at your same link:
http://www.wnbc.com/news/4044726/detail.html
This creep lied time and again, even blaming the laser targeting the plane on his 7 year old daughter!