Nicholas Pifer, Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft, Virginia 2018

A Marshall man, 45, has pleaded guilty to a serious crime that put the lives of two commercial aircraft pilots at risk.

Nicholas Pifer, 45, struck the cockpit of two commercial aircraft with the beam of a laser pointer. Both aircraft were in the process of landing at Washington Dulles International Airport, but managed to land safely. All four pilots reported seeing the cabin illuminated with a green light.

The incident, which occurred in the Eastern District of Virginia, has sent shockwaves through the aviation community. The pilots, who were in the cockpit at the time of the incident, were temporarily blinded by the intense green light.

Pifer pleaded guilty to one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when sentenced on December 21, 2018. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The judge presiding over the case is U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Inspector General’s Office are all involved in the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Peters and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Clark are prosecuting the case.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger, who stated that the incident was a serious threat to aviation safety.

A copy of the press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-282.

The incident serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of reckless behavior. Pifer’s actions could have had devastating consequences, and it is fortunate that the pilots were able to land the aircraft safely.

Nicholas Pifer’s case is a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and responsibility when it comes to aviation safety.

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