**Executive Summary**
The document addresses Unstarred Question No. 3000 in Lok Sabha, concerning incidents of laser lights directed at aircrafts reported at airports over the past five years, the existence of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for post-incident notification and identification of laser sources. The response provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation includes a list of reported incidents (Annexure A) and references to existing regulations and procedures governing laser emission control near aerodromes. The question was scheduled to be answered on December 18th, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Laser Incident Data:**
* Annexure A provides a table detailing the number of laser interference incidents reported at various airports across India from 2021 to 2025.
* Data is broken down by airport and year.
* Overall total incidents reported:
* 2021: 0
* 2022: 3
* 2023: 16
* 2024: 548
* 2025: 534
* **Regulatory Framework:**
* Aircraft Rules, 1937, Rule 66 regulates the exhibition of false lights, including laser lights, near aerodromes if they endanger aircraft safety.
* DGCA CAR Section 4, Series B, Part I, para 5.3.1.2 outlines requirements for protecting aircraft operations from hazardous laser effects near airports, including establishing protected zones.
* **Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs):**
* SOPs for controlling laser emission activity are defined in the Aerodrome Manual of each concerned aerodrome.
**Impact Analysis**
**Airports**
* **Impact**
* Airports are responsible for adhering to the Aerodrome Manual, which defines SOPs for controlling laser emission activity.
* **Action Required**
* Airports must enforce their existing Aerodrome Manual procedures for laser emission control.
**DGCA**
* **Impact**
* The DGCA's CAR Section 4, Series B, Part I, establishes requirements for protecting aircraft from laser hazards.
* **Action Required**
* The DGCA must ensure compliance with its regulations regarding laser safety zones around airports.
**Aircraft Operators/Pilots**
* **Impact**
* Benefit from regulations designed to mitigate laser-related risks, enhancing flight safety.
* **Action Required**
* Pilots should report any laser incidents as per established protocol.
Key Entities Referenced
Aircraft Rules, 1937: Regulates the exhibition of false lights, including laser lights, near aerodromes.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: Primary ministry responsible for matters related to the incidents of laser lights at aircrafts.
DGCA CAR Section 4, Series B, Part I: Prescribes requirements for protecting aircraft operations against the hazardous effects of laser emitters around airports.
Airports: The location where laser incidents are reported, impacting flight safety and operations.
Aerodrome Manual: Defines Standard Operating Procedures to control activity of laser emission around airports
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 3000
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18th December 2025 )
INCIDENTS OF LASER LIGHTS AT AIRCRAFTS
3000. SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C
SHRI MURASOLI S
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) the details and list of incidents reported at airports where laser lights were directed at airplanes
during the last five years, airport-wise;
(b) whether the Government has formulated any Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for post-
incident notification and identification of the source of such laser lights; and
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a): List of Laser incidents reported at airports is attached as Annexure A.;
;
(b) & (c): Rule 66 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 regulates the exhibition of false lights, including laser
lights, in the vicinity of aerodromes where such lights may endanger the safety of aircraft or interfere
with visual aids for navigation. Further, para 5.3.1.2 of DGCA CAR Section 4, Series B, Part I
prescribes requirements for protecting aircraft operations against the hazardous effects of laser
emitters around airports, including the establishment of protected zones to mitigate risks arising from
laser emissions. Further, Standards Operating Procedures are defined in Aerodrome Manual of
concerned aerodrome to control activity of laser emission around airports.
******Annexure A
Details of Laser Incidents reported at airports
Airport / Place of
S. No. Year wise Laser Interference Incidents
occurrence
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
1. Ahmedabad 0 0 0 10 17
2. Bengaluru 0 0 0 10 1
3. Chennai 0 0 0 67 54
4. Delhi 0 0 2 113 105
5. Hyderabad 0 0 0 63 41
6. Jaipur 0 3 6 40 56
7. Kolkata 0 0 0 72 44
8. Lucknow 0 0 6 23 26
9. Mysore 0 0 0 3 2
10. Trivandrum 0 0 0 15 7
11. Vadodara 0 0 0 1 2
12. Varanasi 0 0 0 9 10
13. Aurangabad 0 0 0 2 2
14. Mumbai 0 0 0 18 33
15. Bhopal 0 0 0 8 16
16. Nagpur 0 0 0 1 2
17. Surat 0 0 0 6 4
18. Agartala 0 0 0 8 17
19. Bhubaneshwar 0 0 1 1 1
20. Kolkata FIR 0 0 0 5 8
21. Patna 0 0 0 9 11
Naini-Saini
22. 0 0 0 5 0
Airport,Pittoragarh
23. Vishakhapatnam 0 0 0 4 0
24. Coimbatore 0 0 0 8 8
25. Cochin 0 0 0 4 11
26. Calicut 0 0 0 14 8
27. Madurai 0 0 0 6 4
28. Rajahmundry 0 0 0 1 3
29. Tiruchirapalli 0 0 0 5 2
30. Tirupati 0 0 0 2 3
31. Dehradun 0 0 1 0 0
32. Amritsar 0 0 0 0 1
33. Guwahati 0 0 0 6 1
34. Indore 0 0 0 0 1
35. Udaipur 0 0 0 0 1
36. Durgapur 0 0 0 0 1
37. Imphal 0 0 0 0 1
38. Jharsuguda 0 0 0 0 139. Lucknow AFS 0 0 0 0 8
40. Vijayawada 0 0 0 0 5
41. Kalaburagi 0 0 0 0 3
42. Kannur 0 0 0 0 2
43. Mangalore 0 0 0 9 11
TOTAL 0 3 16 548 534
*****