Man charged after laser pointed at planes near Wellington Airport

Around 6.45pm, police were alerted by Air Traffic Control that a plane preparing to land at Wellington Airport had been targeted by a laser. Five minutes later, a second plane
reported the same.

The laser appeared to come from Stokes Valley. An officer already in the area responded and, within 10 minutes, located a man with a laser. He was taken into custody.

An officer already in Stokes Valley on unrelated matters was able to respond, and within 10 minutes, the man was located with a laser and taken into custody.

Police say pointing a laser at any aircraft is extremely dangerous and warn that offenders will be held to account.