Mid-Missouri sheriffs alerted to laser pointed at plane

AUDRAIN COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

At least three Mid-Missouri sheriff's offices were alerted to a laser pointed at a flight over Montgomery, Audrain and Pike counties late Sunday night.

According to a Facebook post from Audrain County Sheriff Matt Oller, it happened just before 10 p.m. Oller said the report came from the air traffic control center in Springfield.

A spokeswoman with the FAA said no other federal authorities were alerted to the report.

Air traffic controllers Told Oller the person who pointed the laser was near the Audrain, Pike and Montgomery counties lines.

Oller said a deputy was sent to the area, but nobody was arrested.

Oller said someone may not realize how dangerous it is to shine a laser pointer at a plane.

"I don't think they realize the gravity of the situation," Oller said. "We have no way of knowing if it was a toy, or a firearm with a laser on it."

The Audrain County Sheriff said his office receives one of these calls every couple of years.