The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has warned that targeting air ambulances with lasers could cause a “catastrophic incident” and result in offenders facing a five-year prison sentence.
On September 10, 2026, during UK Air Ambulance Week, the CAA, in tandem with the charity Air Ambulances UK, spoke about the dangers that critical care helicopters are facing from the ground.
According to the CAA, laser attacks occur every month and can cause temporary blindness and distraction to pilots, or even long-term eye damage.
Emergency air ambulances fly over 135 flights a day in the UK, requiring speed, precision and exceptional concentration from the crew.
During 2025, there were 94 cases of emergency helicopters being attacked. For the first half of 2026, the total is 35.
Most air ambulances operate with only one pilot, compounding the significant safety risk.
“These attacks need to stop,” Glenn Bradley, Head of Flight Operations at the UK CAA, said. “Every month we see these vital flights potentially disrupted and their pilots subject to long-lasting eye damage. Everyone must recognize that this is totally unacceptable.”
The CAA highlighted that air ambulance charities only have a small number of pilots, and if one of the pilot’s eyes is damaged by a laser, then it reduces the helicopter’s availability for critical care flights.
“If you see or hear a helicopter, there’s a good chance it’s an air ambulance delivering critical care,” Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Chief Pilot, Matt Wilcock, said. “So, targeting one of these with a laser could result in you or your family not getting the emergency help we provide.”
Wilcock added: “Most winters I suffer at least one or two laser attacks. At night they are exceptionally startling and distracting and can damage my eyes, potentially resulting in a catastrophic accident.”
As well as those found guilty of targeting an aircraft with a laser spending time in prison, they could also face an unlimited fine. The powers fall under the Laser Misuse (Vehicles) Act 2018.