Man charged after laser pointed at planes near Wellington Airport

NZ Herald

20 Sep, 2025 07:52 PMQuick Read

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Air Traffic Control at Wellington Airport reported that two planes had been targeted by a laser. Photo / file

A man is before the courts after a laser was pointed at two commercial aircraft in Wellington on Saturday.

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.