West Texas man accused of shining laser at planes

06:29 PM CDT on Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Associated Press

EL PASO, Texas - A man accused of shining a laser at commercial planes flying over his home was arrested after federal agents saw the beam, the FBI said Wednesday.

Agents arrested Clinton Udet Pinckert, 47, Tuesday night at his house in Clint, about 20 miles southeast of El Paso. Pinckert is accused of attempting to disable a commercial aircraft, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

FBI agent Andrea Simmons there were complaints this month involving at least four commercial aircraft that had experienced lasers shined on them. One of the planes was landing in El Paso. The other three were flying over at more than 34,000 feet, Simmons said.

"The laser was being shined at the aircraft in the cockpit," said Simmons, who said pilots or crew members could momentarily be blinded. "It's such a powerful laser that it's a great concern."

She had no specifics on which airlines were targeted by the lasers.

The Federal Aviation Administration assisted the FBI in narrowing down the site where the beam originated. Agents who had been dispatched to the Clint area saw the laser and were able to pinpoint the location.

The device, which has been confiscated, is about the size of a flashlight, approximately 10 inches long. It's available to the public, according to Simmons.
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