Laser pointed at the aeroplane

When a green laser struck the aeroplane, a pilot was attempting to land a plane at the Villeneuve Airport.

RCMP said the incident, reported to them by NAV Canada, happened Wednesday night at the airport northwest of Edmonton.

Police said the pilot was able to land the aeroplane safely. However, the incident reminds us of the dangers of lasers.

Police said the laser can temporarily blind the pilot, create intense glare that affects the pilot's vision, and distract the pilot, putting all people aboard the aeroplane at serious risk.

WATCH: A Global News helicopter was targeted with a laser pointer during a newscast. Pointing a laser at an aeroplane is illegal, but as Angie Seth reports, the number of incidents is rising in Canada.

According to Transport Canada, over 500 reported laser strikes occurred in 2018, putting pilots, crews, and passengers at risk.

RCMP said that pointing a laser at an aeroplane is illegal and a criminal offence. Under the Aeronautics Act, people convicted of looking a laser at an aeroplane could face up to $100,000 in fines, five years in prison, or both.

In addition to laser pointers, pilots face another concern: Christmas laser lights designed to adorn the facades of houses.

These gadgets come with a warning not to project lights at or near the flight path of an aeroplane within ten nautical miles of an airport. If the user's desired lighting surface is within that radius, the user is asked to lower the angle of the light so that the lasers aren't pointed at the sky.