Hyderabad: Partygoers’ laser confuses pilot

Hyderabad: A group of minors celebrating a birthday near the Shamshabad airport used laser lights that put the lives of passengers on an incoming aircraft at risk.

A senior government officer said that an international flight from Dubai was about to land late on Saturday night at Shamshabad when pilot was distracted by a laser light used by the party-makers, which left him confused as to the location of the runway.

It took all the experience of the pilot and the use of equipment to identify the runway and land safely. A complaint was registered with the Air Traffic Controller. This was then passed on to the airport officials, the government official said.

Following this incident, conventions, parties, and open ground celebrations within 15 km of the runaway of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport have been prohibited.

When the Ranga Reddy collector followed it up, airport officials said that it was a birthday celebration taking place near the airport, where laser lights were being used.

A sensitisation drive was carried out for the next two days near the villages around Shamshabad airport to make people aware of the danger involved in using bright lights in the vicinity of the runway. The use of drones within the restricted zone of the airport is not allowed as it can create problems for the air traffic.

"The open area around Shamshabad attracts enthusiasts who want to experiment or learn flying drones. Because it can cause trouble in the restricted zones, citizens and government officials were sensitised about the issue,” stated officials.

In a bid to ensure that the incident does not repeat, convention halls and party units have been served a precautionary notice that the lighting they use must not have laser beams and that parties must be terminated within the stipulated time. In the recent case, it was found that the party went on till early Sunday morning.

A case under IPC Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) was booked by the Shamshabad police, following the reports that laser lights and sound systems were used during a birthday party at Rasheedguda.

The incident took place on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday morning where youngsters celebrated a birthday using laser lights and sound systems. The youngsters were minor school-going boys.

Shamshabad DCP N. Prakash Reddy said a suo motu case had been registered but no arrests were made in the case. Guidelines were being issued to prevent the use of fancy lights and drones with a 15-km radius of the airport, he said.