Accused shone laser beam at RAF Leuchars Tornado
The pilot and navigator of an RAF Leuchars Tornado fighter were distracted on three occasions as a green laser beam was shone into their cockpit from a farm near Cupar.
A Tornado F3 from Leuchars.
- By Gordon Berry
- Published in the Courier : 20.08.10
- Published online : 20.08.10 @ 06.12am
On one occasion, when the plane's canopy had a green glow inside it, the pilot was almost at stall speed on a task which required a great deal of concentration.
The details emerged at Cupar Sheriff Court on Thursday when Romanian worker Radu Moldovan (28), Cairnie Fruit Farm, Cupar, appeared from custody.
Moldovan admitted that on August 16, at the farm, he culpably and recklessly endangered the safety of a military aircraft by directing a laser device into its cockpit.
After hearing details of the offence Sheriff Charles Macnair ordered the accused to hand his passport into Cupar Police Station and to report daily to police until his case is dealt with.
Depute fiscal Laura Wright told the court that the Tornado had been heading towards Leuchars at around 9.40pm when the pilot and navigator were directed to a precision radar approach with the intention of overshooting the runway.
As this was being done the pilot told his navigator that a laser had been shone at the aircraft, and the light had penetrated the canopy.
It appeared that the light had originated from the ground, and the crew contacted air traffic control to make them aware of the situation.
At that point, said the depute fiscal, the plane had been five miles from the runway at a height of about 1200 feet, and had overshot as planned.
Distracted again
The pilot had then been directed to conduct another approach, and as he flew towards Cupar he was again distracted by the laser beam entering his field of vision.
On this occasion there was a flickering effect, as though an attempt was being made to adjust the laser towards the Tornado.
This time the navigator was able to identify the source and marked its co-ordinates using the Tornado's on-board navigation system.
The crew had again been directed to a precision approach, this time with the intention of landing.
As the plane was positioning it was again hit by the green beam of light but the pilot continued and landed the aircraft successfully.
The depute fiscal said that the co-ordinates had been passed to Fife Constabulary, and they related to Cairnie Fruit Farm.
Officers spoke to the farm manager and were advised that there were a number of seasonal workers.
Moldovan, a works supervisor, told officers that he owned the laser device.
When interviewed he said that he had been having a barbecue and was playing with a laser pen and pointing it towards the sky.
Apologised for danger
He said that he had noticed the plane and had been using the laser pen, which he got from eBay for £4.
The accused had said that he had been waving the device about, but it was put to him that the beam had been in the aircraft for between five and 10 seconds and this did not equate to a random action.
Moldovan had then said that he did point it at the plane when it passed and had tried to hit the underside of it.
The accused also agreed that he tracked the plane with the laser and, when asked if he understood the danger, he replied, "Now I understand."
Moldovan apologised and had said he had not known that his actions could have been so dangerous.
Sheriff Macnair said that on the face of it the offence seemed extremely serious.
He deferred sentence until September 16, when background and community service reports will be available. Moldovan was allowed bail.
When the case first called the accused had tendered a plea of not guilty but shortly afterwards, after defence solicitor Hilary Eldridge had been given confidential information from the Crown about the potential danger, the guilty plea was tendered.
10.28am - 20.08.2010 j.bell - westown, perthshire Report This
great....how to bring the R.A.F to their knees- purchase a £4 laser pen.<br /> come on, i neednt state the obvious...but i will...surely a multi squillion pound fighter jets safety cant be compromised by a laser pen maybe the RAF should install them on the front of their jets if they are that dangerous
12.11pm - 20.08.2010 Dixon - Luton, England Report This
I guess it can if the aircrew need to look out of the window to fly the thing. Or, Mr Bell, do you think they're all flown by "multi squillion pound" computers and not by people with the Mk1 eyeball?
12.58am - 23.08.2010 Daniel the third - London, UK Report This
The sun even at dawn or dusk ie on the horizon, is brighter than a laser pen, surely?
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