An Aeroflot plane with 128 people on board nearly crashed while landing in Barnaul last week after a 15-year-old boy directed a laser pointer at the cockpit, news reports said Friday.
The boy targeted the A-320 plane carrying 120 passengers and eight crew members as it was landing in the airport of the Altai republic's capital around 6 a.m. Thursday, Interfax reported, citing regional police.
The boy could not sleep and entertained himself with the laser pointer, which he directed at the plane from the window of his room, news site Altapress.ru reported.
Laser attacks can cause short-term vision loss.
The pilot of the plane, which was arriving from Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, told police that he barely averted a crash and that the laser's ray had remained in the cockpit almost until the plane touched down, Altapress.ru said.
Aeroflot had no immediate comment about the incident.
The unidentified boy told police that he "had not planned to blind the pilot and had only directed the beam at the flashing lights of the airplane."
The parents of the boy will be fined about 500 rubles ($15) for negligence, the news reports said.
About 50 laser attacks on planes have been reported so far this year, causing the State Duma to consider legislation making the attacks a crime punishable by seven to 10 years in prison.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.