Cheektowaga Man Gets 18 Months in Delta Laser Strike at Buffalo Airport

A Cheektowaga, N.Y., man has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for pointing a green laser at a Delta Air Lines aircraft during its final approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Joseph L. Crapsi was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo following his conviction in connection with the March 2, 2024, incident.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of New York, the laser beam struck Delta Flight 2334 during a critical phase of flight. Prosecutors said the illumination lasted approximately 90 seconds, posing a significant safety hazard to the flight crew during the high-workload environment of a final approach. Investigators identified Crapsi after a neighbor reported the incident to law enforcement.

Federal Penalties and Aviation Safety Trends

Federal law treats laser strikes as serious threats to aviation safety, carrying penalties of up to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000. The FAA has documented a sharp rise in such incidents, with some reporting periods showing a 41% year-over-year increase and more than 13,000 laser strike reports in a single year. Safety advocates say the Crapsi case underscores both the dangers laser strikes pose to flight crews and the federal government's commitment to prosecution.