Police slam 'idiots' who shone lasers at Heathrow planes

Police have slammed the actions of "idiots" who shone lasers at aircraft flying over Heathrow Airport.

Officers are investigating four incidents where a laser was shone in the direction of a number of flights near the airport on Saturday evening.

The first incident happened just after 7.50pm, when a light was beamed at an aeroplane land at the airport from Dubai.

The second incident happened just after 8pm, when an inbound flight from Geneva was targeted.

A laser was also shone at a third plane, flying into the airport from Amsterdam, just after 8.20pm.

The alarm was raised a fourth time just before 9pm, by pilots on board a flight that was departing from Heathrow to Geneva.

Officers from Heathrow Airport's dedicated police team took to Twitter to attack the "idiots" behind the incidents.

They wrote: "More laser strikes on incoming flights tonight. This is extremely dangerous and puts peoples lives at risk. Think about your actions!

"Endangering an aircraft in flight is a very serious offence. Maximum senence is LIFE imprisonment. #think"

The Twitter account also shared a picture of how a laser beam appears inside a cockpit, writing "this is what happens when you point these stupid laser pens at an aircraft", and telling the culprits to "get another hobby."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "At no point were any of the aircraft in danger.

"Police at Heathrow investigate. There has been no arrests."