N291SW

On November 29, 1996, about 1850 hours Pacific standard time, the captain on Skywest Airlines flight 5410 sustained an eye injury when he was illuminated by what is believed to be a laser beam during an approach to Los Angeles, California. The aircraft, an Embraer EMB-120 ER, N291SW, was operated by Skywest Airlines, Inc., as a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight under 14 CFR Part 135 when the incident occurred. The flight originated in Bakersfield, California, at 1825 on the evening of the incident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the assigned altitude and an IFR flight plan was filed.

The aircraft was level at 6,000 feet msl on a right base for a visual approach to runway 24R. The pilot was looking for downwind traffic through the right cabin window when he was struck in his right eye by a bright blue beam of light. According to a transcript of the cockpit voice recorder, the captain immediately remarked "What the (expletive) is that?" The first officer replied "A light, on the ground. A (expletive) laser." The captain then remarked, "It almost blinded me in my right eye." The captain reported that as the flight continued it became difficult for him to see from that eye due to increased burning and tearing. By the time the flight was established on final approach, the captain was experiencing so much discomfort that he relinquished the controls to the first officer who completed the landing.

After landing, the captain advised Los Angeles ground control and Skywest dispatch of the incident and then requested medical attention. His medical examination at Centinela Hospital revealed multiple flash burns to his right cornea. The captain estimated they had been in the vicinity of the Hollywood Hills when he encountered the light.

The captain was also examined by the staff at the Visual Psychophysics Branch, Armstrong Laboratory, Brooks AFB, Texas. Their examination revealed no evidence of permanent effects from the exposure.

Investigators from the FDA were notified and attempted, without success, to locate the source of the beam. According to the FAA, there were no NOTAMs in effect for laser light activity in the Los Angeles area at the time of the incident.