Laser also threatens police helicopter

IN YET another incident of laser beams directed against aircraft over Cyprus, a police helicopter flying over Limassol was targeted by irresponsible laser pranksters, endangering the lives of its pilot and crew.

“This is a very serious incident that could have had unforeseen consequences as the pilot could have lost control of navigation,” said Andreas Angelides, the Limassol police press officer.

The incident took place at 8.50pm on Thursday when the police helicopter flying from Larnaca Airport to Paphos was harassed by laser beams while flying north of Limassol. The laser beam came from an unknown spot from the Ayios Sylas- Polemidia area.

Despite the deadly attack, the helicopter’s pilot managed to keep his calm and to keep the aircraft in the air by lowering its altitude and continuing his course. However, as the helicopter was flying at a lower altitude than usual, area residents became alarmed as it flew over their homes.

“Because of the incident the helicopter was forced to manoeuvre and slightly change its course, but the pilot took all necessary measures so that it reached its destination without creating any problems,” Angelides said.

The pilot alerted police over the incident and patrol cars combed the area in a bid to track down the pranksters. However no suspects have yet been identified, although police are calling in for questioning a number of people they believe may be in possession of laser devices.

“Investigations continue and the search will be intensified to all directions to track down those in possession of such devices,” Angelides said.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.