In 15-Minute Span, 3 Planes Hit by Lasers Near Dallas

Someone is in trouble near Dallas: Police and the FAA are investigating after three planes were reportedly hit by a laser beam while flying into Dallas Love Field between 7:30pm and 7:45pm on Wednesday. An FAA rep says a Southwest Airlines 737, a Virgin America A319, and a private business jet reported a laser beam originating in roughly the same area as they flew at between 3,000 and 4,000 feet, per the Dallas Morning News. A police helicopter was unable to find the source. Also on Wednesday, a WABC-TV news helicopter was reportedly hit by a laser near Newark Airport around 5:20pm, while an NBC news helicopter was struck by a green laser over Brooklyn around 6pm, reports the AP.

An NBC reporter managed to get footage of suspects laughing behind a building and reported the incident to police, per NBC New York. An NYPD helicopter was also struck by the laser before two people were taken into custody; one was arrested. The feat is indeed no laughing matter: Anyone caught pointing a laser at an aircraft can face up to 20 years in jail and a $250,000 fine. But as it turns out, not all laser incidents are intentional. After a pilot said he was also subjected to a green laser near Ludington, Mich., last week, officials traced the issue to a Christmas display, which included an image that displayed onto a barn and reflected in the sky, reports Fox 17. (There's been a "record pace" of laser incidents this year.)