One Laser Related Arrest

At least, this is one answer to the rash of laser targeting incidents involving aircraft that have occurred lately.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A man who initially claimed his daughter aimed a laser at a helicopter was charged after he told federal agents that he pointed the light beam at two aircraft, authorities said Tuesday.

David Banach of Parsippany faces charges of interfering with the operator of a mass transportation vehicle and making false statements to the FBI. He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court on Tuesday afternoon.

The aircraft were targeted by the lasers near Teterboro Airport.

On Wednesday night, a pilot preparing to land a chartered jet with 13 people aboard reported seeing three green laser beams about 11 miles from the airport. On Friday, a helicopter carrying Port Authority detectives was hit by a beam as they surveyed the area in an attempt to pinpoint the origin of the original beams.

No motive was given — so based purely on speculation — I'll chalk these incidents up to simple mischief. I'm guessing that the other events were copycats, or that he is simply a copycat himself.

UPDATE: Here's a Reuters article, but still no word on why he did it.