PORT ANGELES — City police continue to seek information about a personal laser strike that cut short a Coast Guard helicopter training mission Monday evening, Port Angeles Deputy Chief of Police Brian Smith said Thursday.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew was airborne when a laser was shined at the helicopter at about 6:30 p.m. Monday, the Coast Guard said Tuesday.
The crew aborted the mission and landed safely at Air Station/Sector Field Office Port Angeles.
No injuries were reported, but all crew members were grounded until they were cleared by medical personnel as laser strikes can cause permanent eye damage, the Coast Guard said.
A Coast Guard spokeswoman referred inquires about the incident to Port Angeles police Wednesday.
“It was a brief event,” said Smith, who knows the pilot who was flying the helicopter.
“It didn’t affect the pilot, based on what he told me, but it’s still a reportable event. It obviously something that’s serious, and it’s against the law.”
During nighttime missions, laser beams can cause temporary loss of night vision, glaring and flash blindness, putting the crew members’ lives in jeopardy, Coast Guard officials have said.
Smith said the Monday laser incident was the second involving a Coast Guard helicopter this year.
Anyone with possible information regarding the incident is asked to contact Coast Guard investigators at 360-417-5823.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
