MANPADs are Man Portable Air Defense Systems. I think they may be shoulder launched weapons. Homeland Security thinks a bunch of them have been into the country unassembled.
What if the lasers shot at the airplanes are a test of *their* targeting devices or a test of *our* ability to locate the source of the devices and the speed with which we do it?
Before 9/11 they made a number of test runs. Perhaps others on this thread could determine if this makes any sense.
Now that's a scary thought - and totally plausible. (Thanx for the explanation.)
Your theory makes sense ladyjane.