Man arrested for allegedly shining powerful torch at multiple aircraft in Adelaide’s northern suburbs
A man has been arrested for allegedly pointing a high-powered torch into the path of aircraft on Friday night after multiple calls from worried pilots.
SA News
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A man has been arrested and accused of pointing a high-powered torch into the path of aircraft on Friday night.
About 7pm on Friday, police were called to Bradman Road at Parafield Gardens following multiple calls from pilots reporting a laser being shone into aircraft.
Northern District patrols travelled to Bradman Road and saw a beam of light coming from a property.
Police searched the property and allegedly found several high-powered torches and prohibited knifes. During the search, they also allegedly found dried cannabis and a cannabis plant.
A 49-year-old resident was arrested and charged with a number of serious offences including two counts of prejudice safe operation of an aircraft, four counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, cultivating cannabis and trafficking a controlled drug.
He was granted bail to appear in Elizabeth Magistrates Court in November.
The incident is the not the first of its kind in the state.
Earlier this year, a 48-year-old man was arrested for allegedly shining a laser at a police helicopter in Adelaide’s west.
The Semaphore Park man was charged with a number of serious offences including prejudice safe operation of an aircraft and use or have possession of a prohibited weapon.
It followed another case in 2021, when a man faced court for firing a laser 2000 times the legal strength at a police helicopter four times in seven minutes.
Mark Andrew Golka pleaded guilty to an aggravated charge of committing an act likely to cause harm and possessing a prohibited weapon.
The 49-year-old was drunk and using pain medication at the time of the incident.
He was spared jail and handed a one-year suspended sentence.
In South Australia, The Aircraft Offences Act 1971 states it is an offence to do an act or thing capable of prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft. Penalties can include a maximum 14 years’ jail.
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