B738, vicinity Porto Portugal, 2015

B738, vicinity Porto Portugal, 2015

Summary

On 5 September 2015, a Boeing 737-800 was about to commence descent on a non-precision final approach at Porto in VMC when a green laser was directed at the aircraft. The Pilot Flying responded rapidly by shielding his eyes and was unaffected but the other pilot looked up, sustained flash blindness and crew coordination was compromised. Subsequently, the approach became unstable and a go around to an uneventful approach to the reciprocal runway direction was completed. The subsequent Investigation noted the use of increasingly powerful green lasers in this way and that such use was not contrary to Portuguese law.

Description

On 5 September, an Irish-operated Boeing 737-800 (EI-FIH) on a scheduled passenger flight from Lille to Porto was on a non-precision approach to destination in VMC at night when the performance of one the pilots was briefly compromised by the effects of flash blindness after a powerful laser was directed at the aircraft. The approach became unstable and a go around to an uneventful further approach and landing followed.

Investigation

The event was notified to the Portuguese Accident Investigation Agency (the GPIAA) who eventually delegated the Investigation to the Irish AAIU as the State of aircraft registration and of the aircraft operator. Neither FDR nor CVR data were available by the time the Investigation was commenced but the Operator was able to provide QAR data equivalent to that which would have also been recorded on the FDR.

The full content of this page is available to registered users only.
Please Log in or Register

SKYbrary Partners:

Safety knowledge contributed by: