This situation overview provides information on laser interference. The information is produced by the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom and updated in English annually. In Finnish the information is updated twice a year.
N.B: For most up-to-date information on laser interference, change language selection to Finnish.
Laser interference 2025
Laser interference of aircraft and helicopters is a constant risk factor in air traffic. Laser beams can impair vision during critical phases of flight, such as takeoff and landing, or when flying at low altitude. Laser pointers make it difficult for pilots to concentrate and cause visual disturbances, such as temporary blindness, blurred vision, or even permanent damage to the retina.
In 2025, a total of 54 laser interferences in Finland or targeting Finnish aircraft abroad were reported. The number was smaller than in the couple of previous years but slightly above the 2015–2024 average (45.5).
In Finland, 26 laser interferences were reported, i.e., clearly fewer than in previous years and approximately the amount of the long-term average. Abroad, interferences directed at Finnish aircraft were reported 28 times, which was above the average and higher than the previous year.
In Finland, the number of laser interferences thus developed in a good direction. Last year, almost all situations occurred in Helsinki, whereas in previous years Helsinki's proportion has been approx. 75%. The number of situations reported from elsewhere in Finland was thus at a record low. Also numerically, the figures in Helsinki were above the average, although slightly smaller than the previous year. On the other hand, in a few reports it was stated that several flights had been interfered with, so the actual numbers of interfered flights were higher than the number of reports.
Abroad, the most laser interferences were reported from Latvia and Greece. During the last ten years, the most interferences have been reported from the United Kingdom, Spain, and Estonia.
The most typical month for interference was again September, as most often in previous years as well. Interferences occurred most often during approach. Laser interferences did not cause more serious consequences, but in individual cases, however, visual disturbances to the other pilot.
Laser interference is a crime. Directing a laser beam at an aircraft crew is punishable in itself, even if it does not result in any concrete danger or damage to the aircraft, its crew or passengers. Airlines will generally file a criminal report in cases of harassment, and Traficom may also request an investigation from the police.
In November 2024, a verdict was given regarding laser interference directed at a general aviation aircraft flying near Hyvinkää in September 2022. The man who pointed the laser was sentenced for two counts of aggravated endangerment of traffic safety to imprisonment, which was sentenced as conditional. In addition, he had to pay 50 day-fines.
This was the second verdict given in Finland regarding laser interference. The first was given in 2018. At that time, the Lapland District Court sentenced a man to a personal fine for interfering with a medical helicopter with a high-power laser. The court considered that the act fulfilled the essential elements of aggravated endangerment of traffic safety and caused significant danger to flight safety.
FinnHEMS, the Finnish Defence Forces, the Border Guard, the Finnish Pilots' Association, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority STUK and Traficom launched the "Laser is not a toy" campaign in March 2021 (External link), drawing attention to the serious consequences of laser interference for air traffic.
In September 2019, Traficom published a safety bulletin on laser interference (External link), which reminded pilots of the dangers of laser interference and also provided instructions for pilots in the event of a laser interference situation. The bulletin also reported on the first court ruling on laser interference.
Pointing with a laser is punishable by law
Handheld laser pointers are cheap and easily available, which means that many people see them as toys. In Finland, the maximum permitted output of an individual laser pointer is one milliwatt. Audiovisual equipment may have a laser pointer with five milliwatts of power at maximum. If such a pointer has a green beam, it may interfere with pilots at a distance of up to three kilometres. If the laser has 125 mW of power, the interference may reach up to 18 kilometres. Eyes are clearly more sensitive to green light than red or blue light.
Pointing the beam of a laser pointer at the flight crew of an aircraft is punishable in itself, even if it did not cause any actual damage or real danger to the aircraft, its crew or the passengers.
If e.g. the beam actually hits the eyes of the flight crew during a critical stage of the flight, i.e. takeoff or landing so that the pilot is blinded or even loses their eyesight partially, the dangerous situation is real and serious. This may constitute an offence called “causing danger” or, in certain situations, “criminal traffic mischief” or “negligent endangerment.”
If the use of a laser pointer causes real damage, the situation will naturally be assessed in a completely different manner. In that case, all the provisions of the Criminal Code that safeguard the life and health of people apply, such as the provisions on negligent bodily injury and homicide. Naturally, the party causing the damage would also be liable for the considerable financial damage.