DENVER (AP) -- People pointing lasers at airplanes at Denver International Airport have increased in recent years, following a troubling trend across the country.
The Federal Aviation Administration says people pointed lasers at airplanes around the Denver airport 38 times last year, up 20 percent from 32 reported in 2009 and nearly double the 22 reported in 2008. There were less than 10 incidents in each year from 2005 to 2007.
FAA officials say lasers can temporarily blind pilots or even cause permanent eye damage, putting passengers and planes at risk.
FAA officials say the number of laser incidents nationally nearly doubled from about 1,500 in 2009 to more than 2,800 in 2010.
Los Angeles had the most incidents last year with 108. Eight other airports had more incidents than Denver.
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