PHOENIX -- A joint Air Force Office of Special Investigations and FBI case in Arizona is highlighting how laser strikes against military aircraft can lead to federal prison time.
William Wilson, 56, of Buckeye, Arizona, was sentenced June 15 by U.S. District Judge Steven P. Logan to 10 months in prison for aiming a laser pointer at aircraft, including U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter jets.
For AFOSI, the case has put a spotlight on both the danger laser strikes pose to aircrews and the importance of close coordination with federal law enforcement partners.
“Pointing lasers at aircraft not only endangers the crew on board, but it also endangers the communities below,” said AFOSI Special Agent Gregory Tiegs, who is assigned to the FBI Phoenix Division Joint Terrorism Task Force. “The efforts of AFOSI in this case demonstrate our commitment to protecting U.S. military personnel, safeguarding mission readiness and keeping our communities safe.”
According to the Justice Department, Wilson targeted multiple U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter jets training near Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, with lasers between September 2024 and January 2025.
On Jan. 8, 2025, an FBI surveillance plane captured video showing laser strikes coming from Wilson’s residence. The pilots of the FBI aircraft and two F-35s were struck by lasers that night.
Agents later searched Wilson’s home and found two lasers, one red and one green. Wilson admitted to investigators that he had pointed lasers at planes on several occasions.
“AFOSI, FBI and local law enforcement worked hand-in-hand to identify the origin of the laser strikes,” Tiegs said. “Through this exceptional interagency collaboration, we were able to combine our investigative resources and expertise to identify and hold accountable the individual responsible.”
Tiegs said his assignment as a task force officer to the FBI Phoenix Division Joint Terrorism Task Force helps AFOSI to work with federal, state and local partners on threats to military personnel, installations and surrounding communities.
For investigators, the case also demonstrates that laser strikes are not harmless pranks and can carry significant legal consequences.
“Pointing a laser at an aircraft is not a harmless act,” Tiegs said. “It is a serious federal crime that has potential life-threatening consequences. AFOSI and the FBI are dedicated to holding those accountable who jeopardize the safety of aircrew and the communities below them on the ground.”
Special Agent Keith M. Daniels, senior enlisted leader for AFOSI Detachment 421, said laser strikes pose immediate danger to aircraft and crews.
“Interfering with aircraft by pointing lasers or any other means is dangerous and illegal,” Daniels said. “It puts the safety of the aircrew, passengers and everyone on the ground in jeopardy.”
The Arizona case reflects a threat aviation officials have warned about for years of how a small handheld laser can create a much larger danger when pointed at an aircraft, particularly at night.
“These are not harmless pranks,” Daniels said. “There’s a risk of causing permanent visual impairment. From the public’s standpoint, misusing lasers can severely impact a person’s ability to see and function.”
Daniels said real-time reporting and coordination among pilots, command posts, AFOSI and law enforcement are crucial to rapidly responding to laser incidents, both stateside and overseas.
“The challenge is not just in reporting the incident,” he said. “What makes it actionable is the pilot’s ability to specify, with a degree of certainty, a geo-coordinate from which the laser originated.”
Individuals convicted of aiming lasers at aircraft may face fines of up to $250,000 and up to five years in prison. The Federal Aviation Administration may also impose civil penalties that can reach tens of thousands of dollars.
According to the FAA’s website, laser strikes against aircraft remain at historically high levels. Pilots reported 13,304 laser strikes in 2023, 12,840 in 2024 and about 11,000 in 2025. Since the FAA began tracking laser-strike reports in 2010, pilots have reported more than 330 injuries.
In Wilson’s case, the Justice Department said he was indicted July 29, 2025, on four counts of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. He later pleaded guilty to two of the counts.
Individuals who witness someone directing a laser toward an aircraft should note the person’s description, location and the circumstances of the incident, officials said, then report it to local law enforcement and AFOSI, regardless of whether the aircraft is military or civilian. Reports may also be sent to laserreports@faa.gov.