Wiltshire Air Ambulance was forced to abort a flight after a laser attack on its live-saving helicopter.
The incident happened last Thursday (25 November), when the aircraft was attempting to land at Victoria Park, Frome, Somerset.
Witnesses spotted the yellow and green aircraft touch down at the park using a powerful spotlight shortly before 10pm – but it lifted and left the area a short time later.
But it has transpired that the crew were attending an incident at all, but making an emergency landing after a “high intensity light” hit the helicopter.
Last year, Wiltshire Air Ambulance was targeted by four separate laser attacks – including one over Corsham as the crew returned from airlifting a critically injured cyclist to hospital.
“A high intensity light was shone at the aircraft on 25 November 2021 at the crew were attempting to land at Victoria Park, Frome”, a spokesperson for the charity said.
They added: “This was a night training flight which had to be aborted – however, had this been a live incident it would have delayed/prevented the crew from getting to the scene.
“Shining a laser at an aircraft is a criminal offence, with punishment of an unlimited fine and up to five years in prison. If you have any information about the incident, please contact the Police on 101.
“In 2020 we were subjected to four separate laser attacks. This was the first incident in 2021.”
You can read about all four laser attacks on Wiltshire Air Ambulance in 2020 here.
