[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?

[FairOpinion]

Here is another incident:

http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/ccw/news/bosnia981104_laser.html

Nov. 4, 1998

Lasers Burn U.S. Pilots’ Eyes

Two American helicopter pilots flying peacekeeping missions over Bosnia have had their eyes burned after lasers were aimed at them from the ground.