Police: Man Targeted Plane Arriving at Republic Airport with Laser Pointer

A 21-year-old St. James man was arrested Friday night for allegedly aiming a laser pointer at a small plane flying to and later a police helicopter, The New York Post reported.

The Pilatus PC-12 turboprop plane was coming in from the east for a landing at Farmingdale's Republic Airport when the pilot saw the red light aimed in his direction, according to the Federal Aviation Association.

FAA officials notified Suffolk police, who sent a helicopter to search for the light source. According to police, suspect David Smith aimed the laser at their helicopter and using units on the ground in the Fourth Precinct and Community Oriented Police Enforcement, Smith's residence on King Arthur's Court was determined to be the location. He was arrested less than an hour after the FAA contacted SCPD.

Smith was charged with obstructing governmental administration in the second degree and may face future charges from the New York Port Authority and New Jersey Terrorism Task Force.

Lasers can blind pilots from miles away and someone caught pointing one at an aircraft can face criminal charges and an FAA civil penalty of $11,000.

Police said the investigation is continuing.