ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 191891
Last updated: 17 February 2021
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| Date: | 05-SEP-2015 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Boeing 737-8AS (WL) |
| Owner/operator: | Ryanair |
| Registration: | EI-FIH |
| C/n / msn: | 44697/5374 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Category: | Incident |
| Location: | near Porto Airport (LPPR) -
 Portugal
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Lille-Lesquin Airport (LIL/LFQQ) |
| Porto-Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO/LPPR) | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIU |
The aircraft was on a scheduled passenger flight from Lille Airport, France (LFQQ), to Porto Airport, Portugal (LPPR). After an uneventful flight, the aircraft commenced a non-precision approach to runway (RWY) 35 at LPPR. When the aircraft was established on the final approach, the Co-Pilot, who was Pilot Flying (PF), was distracted by a green laser light being shone towards the aircraft and raised his hand to protect his eyes. The Commander, who was Pilot Monitoring (PM), looked up and was struck in both eyes by the laser light. The
Commander’s vision became temporarily impaired. Due to the laser illumination, Flight Crew coordination was compromised, which led to the final descent being delayed and the approach becoming unstable. The Commander elected to carry out a missed approach. The aircraft subsequently landed on RWY 17 without further incident. There were no injuries.
The Portuguese investigation board GPIAA reported that the number of reported laser attacks on aircraft in Portugal was as follows:
- 2014, Total Events = 294 of which 107 occurred at LPPR
- 2015, Total Events = 264 of which 105 occurred at LPPR
In Portugal it was not an offence to shine a laser light or similar at an aircraft.
Probable Cause
Laser illumination of the aircraft cockpit area that caused temporary flashblindness to a flight crew member during a critical phase of flight.
Sources:
http://www.aaiu.ie/node/1013
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Safety recommendations:
Safety recommendation IRLD2013016 issued 5 December 2016 by AAIU to ANAC Portugal
Images:
Photo of EI-FIH courtesy AirHistory.net
Frankfurt am Main (EDDF / FRA / FRF)
11 June 2019; (c) Aad van der Voet
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 06-Dec-2016 19:16 | harro | Added |
| 07-Dec-2016 09:56 | harro | Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport] |
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