Incident Boeing 737-8AS (WL) EI-FIH,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 191891
 
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Date:Saturday 5 September 2015
Time:
Type:Silhouette image of generic B738 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Boeing 737-8AS (WL)
Owner/operator:Ryanair
Registration: EI-FIH
MSN: 44697/5374
Year of manufacture:2015
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Aircraft damage: None
Category:Incident
Location:near Porto Airport (LPPR) -   Portugal
Phase: Approach
Nature:Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:Lille-Lesquin Airport (LIL/LFQQ)
Destination airport:Porto-Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO/LPPR)
Investigating agency: AAIU
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The aircraft was on a scheduled passenger flight from Lille Airport, France (LFQQ), to Porto Airport, Portugal (LPPR). After an uneventful flight, the aircraft commenced a non-precision approach to runway (RWY) 35 at LPPR. When the aircraft was established on the final approach, the Co-Pilot, who was Pilot Flying (PF), was distracted by a green laser light being shone towards the aircraft and raised his hand to protect his eyes. The Commander, who was Pilot Monitoring (PM), looked up and was struck in both eyes by the laser light. The
Commander’s vision became temporarily impaired. Due to the laser illumination, Flight Crew coordination was compromised, which led to the final descent being delayed and the approach becoming unstable. The Commander elected to carry out a missed approach. The aircraft subsequently landed on RWY 17 without further incident. There were no injuries.
The Portuguese investigation board GPIAA reported that the number of reported laser attacks on aircraft in Portugal was as follows:
- 2014, Total Events = 294 of which 107 occurred at LPPR
- 2015, Total Events = 264 of which 105 occurred at LPPR
In Portugal it was not an offence to shine a laser light or similar at an aircraft.


Probable Cause
Laser illumination of the aircraft cockpit area that caused temporary flashblindness to a flight crew member during a critical phase of flight.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: AAIU
Report number: 
Status: Investigation completed
Duration:
Download report: Final report

Sources:

http://www.aaiu.ie/node/1013

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
06-Dec-2016 19:16 harro Added
07-Dec-2016 09:56 harro Updated [Departure airport, Destination airport]

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

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