A Chinese warship used a laser to « illuminate » an Australian Air Force jet in what Canberra called a « serious safety incident » in a statement released on Saturday.
« Acts like this have the potential to endanger lives, the statement from the Australian Defence Force said, adding it strongly condemns the « unprofessional and unsafe military conduct. » Pilots targeted by laser attacks have reported disorienting flashes, pain, spasms and spots in their vision and even temporary blindness. « During critical phases of flight when the pilot does not have adequate time to recover, the consequences of laser exposure could be tragic, » a US Federal Aviation Administration document says. The incident occurred on Tuesday, the statement said, when an Australian P-8A aircraft, a reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare plane, was flying over the Arafura Sea, the body of water between Australia’s Northern Territory and the island of New Guinea to the north.
