Posted on 01/05/2005 5:52:46 AM PST by AmericanMade1776
A New Jersey man who pointed a laser beam at an airplane, temporarily blinding the two pilots and endangering the safety of passengers and "countless innocent civilians" on the ground, was slapped with federal charges yesterday. David Banach, 38, of Parsippany, admitted under questioning that he aimed the hand-held laser beam at the jet and later a helicopter, but did not intend to do any harm, authorities said.
Banach, who tests fiber-optic cables for a living, was charged in Newark federal court with interfering with the operator of a mass transportation vehicle ? a charge under the Patriot Act that carries a 20-year prison sentence ? and lying to the FBI.
Banach, who sat silently in the courtroom, was released on $100,000 unsecured bond.
The pilots of a chartered Cessna Citation on its way to Teterboro Airport last Wednesday night reported seeing three green lasers flash across their windshield.
The jet was flying at 3,000 feet with six passengers aboard and was about 11 miles away from the airport. The flash temporarily blinded the pilots, but they were able to safely land the plane.
"We are not saying this is a grand terrorist incident," said U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie.
"We have to send a clear message to the public ? no matter what the intent was."
Christie said authorities were not "scapegoating" Banach.
Two days after the plane incident, a helicopter carrying Port Authority detectives and FBI agents was zapped by a laser as it surveyed the area in an attempt to find the source of the original beams.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
I wonder why this man's religion is absent from the article?
David Banach of Parsippany, New Jersey(L) and his wife leave U.S. District Court in Newark January 4, 2005. Banach faced charges for temporarily blinding the pilots of a private aircraft and a police helicopter with a small laser -- a prank he earlier blamed on his 7-year-old daughter. Photo by Mike Segar/Reuters
Toss the moron under a steam roller. He's too damn stupid to continue breathing my oxygen!
Do you have that information?
Something is not right - green lasers are used in the military - red lasers are used in commercial applications. Where and what type of laser was used?
Well, looking at the picture, I don't know if his religion is relevant. He looks kind of dumb, though.
No I don't but I find it interesting that it doesn't say that he is not a Muslum. So I assume that he must be.
Criminal Charges Against A New Jersey Man Accused Of Shining Laser Beams At Aircraft, And Allegedly Telling Investigators "His Daughter" Shined The Laser
http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/laser/usbanach10405cmp.html
I have no sympathy. Often people have sympathy for people who just do stupid things. Give him the 20 years. Put the 11 people on that plane and me on the jury. The trouble is he'll probably never do a day, even for lying to the FBI...and we know how serious that is...ask Martha.
From: http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_010405_laserarrest.html
"Federal prosecutors say it was a green laser pointer that Banach purchased online. Last Wednesday investigators say he aimed the laser at a private jet on final approach to Teterboro airport."
Looks like you can get a green laser anywhere: http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/5a47/
'Banach initially told agents his 7-year-old daughter was shining beams at trees and the stars at the time the chopper was flying over his home, according to court papers.
He showed agents a black box containing "a silver, cigar-shaped object" that he said was the laser. He denied using it on the Cessna.
Banach even warned agents not to point the laser into anyone's eyes because it could hurt them, court papers said.
During further questioning at the FBI's Newark office, Banach took a lie-detector test and admitted that he shined the laser at the helicopter, but denied any involvement in the Cessna incident, according to court papers.
Banach, who said he bought the laser pointer over the Internet to use at work, later admitted he had shined the laser at both aircraft. '
blaming your kid!
20 years!!!
I doubt that, but it's OK with me in this case. Any copy-cats should see him sent to jail in chains for endangering so many lives.
< ...just did some dumb things. >
See my post #10.
And initially tried to place the blame on his daughter. Not only is he stupid, he's mean.
You can buy both red AND green laser pointers from Edmund's Scientific (and I assume other places). BUT, I can't picture either color laser pointer as being any danger to pilots, given the relatively low laser power.
The type and power level of the laser "is" critical to understanding the story.
The guy did something REALLY idiotic. If he is made an example, fewer numbskulls will do something like this.
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