Following a recent incident where a laser beam was flashed at an aircraft landing at Chennai Airport, the Airport Authority of India (AAI), on May 27, has issued a stringent warning notice. The advisory underscores the critical importance of responsible ground behaviour for ensuring flight safety.
The notice explicitly states that laser lights, hot air balloons, tethered balloons, gliders, and any other light-emitting or flying objects near Chennai Airport pose a severe threat to aviation safety. Such objects can significantly impair a pilot’s vision, particularly during the critical landing phase, thereby endangering lives both in the air and on the ground.
The AAI has declared the use of these objects in vicinities such as rooftops, streets, houses, buildings, playgrounds, or during events held at farmhouses, banquet halls, hotels, and restaurants as strictly prohibited.
To maintain a safe and laser-free flight zone, active enforcement checks are currently underway. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), acting under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, has officially declared such activities a punishable offence.
The AAI urges the public to contribute to maintaining safe skies. “Every safe landing begins with responsible behaviour on the ground,” the notice reiterates. Citizens are encouraged to report any such activity to the nearest police station.
