In what way does a laser endanger aircraft?

Question

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/02/2205452.htm

Answer 1

The damage is to the pilot's retina and could be permanent.  The military issues glasses and visor that are not permeable to laser frequencies to protect against that.

Answer 2

Having had a laser pointed at me (luckily not while I was flying), I can tell you its a very unpleasant experience. It blinds you while in your eyes and the effects can be lasting much like a camera flash going off in front of you; sometimes the effects are permanent.

Having a laser pointed in your face is never good; its extremely dangerous at a critical phase of flight.

Answer 3

it damages eyes

could be dangerous

and could do something to the plane if it is a strong laser

Answer 4

Distracts the pilot. With so much at stake (hundreds of lives) at a very critical phase of flight (most accidents occur during the landing phase of flight), the last thing you want is a pilot wondering "what the heck is that?".

Answer 5

ruins night vision

distracts pilot, at a very bad time too

could damage eyes (it has happened before, an airline captain was forced to retire after being shot in the eye with a laser while on final)

Answer 6

Besides all the points made about the pilot, a lot of passengers like to look out the window during approach or take off.  One of them could suffer eye damage.

It would also have the cops looking for someone with the idea  that a rifle with a laser-dot is out there aiming at low flying aircraft.

Answer 7

It can explode the plane.

I once saw this show on tv where a UFO zapped a jumbo jet with its laser and exploded it. It is very dangerous.