A Malaysia Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur carrying 159 passengers was forced to delay its landing at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata after the pilot was briefly disoriented by a laser beam, airport officials said.
The aircraft was scheduled to touch down at 11.20 pm on Saturday. However, while it was around eight nautical miles from the runway, the pilot reportedly saw a bright laser beam directed at the cockpit from the Madhyamgram-Barasat side. The sudden flash briefly affected the pilot’s visibility, prompting the aircraft to circle before it eventually landed safely at 11:25 pm on its second approach, officials said.
All passengers and members of the crew were safe following the incident, according to airport officials.
The airline subsequently informed airport authorities about the incident. The Kolkata airport authorities also filed a complaint with the NSCBI Airport Police Station, officials added.
Authorities said the use of laser lights in the vicinity of the airport is prohibited. Despite the ban, such incidents are reported occasionally and can pose a risk to aircraft operations.
“There is already an order by Bidhannagar police over the prohibition of laser lights. Although no major delay happened this time, the incident was reported to the police,” a senior airport official said.
