An investigation is underway after American Airlines pilots reported seeing a blue light, possibly a laser, while preparing to land in Charlotte, North Carolina, last week.
According to the FAA, the crew of American Flight 3114 “reported being illuminated by a blue laser” about five miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The incident took place around 7 a.m. local time last Thursday.
The flight landed safely and there were no injuries.
In a statement to FOX News, American said the blue light was reported as a laser event “out of an abundance of caution.”
The FAA alerted local authorities and is beginning its own investigation.
There were almost 11,000 suspected laser strikes on aircraft in the U.S. in 2025, according to FAA statistics. High-powered lasers can “incapacitate” pilots, the agency warned, putting passengers and crew at extreme risk.
Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime, with civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation.
