News Desk
- Police arrested suspect after helicopter pilot reported laser strike
- Federal prosecutors charged man with aiming laser at Trump’s helicopter
- Offense carries prison term of up to five years
NEW YORK: Federal prosecutors charged a New York man on Tuesday after police arrested him for shining a laser pointer at a helicopter carrying President Donald Trump over Queens, law enforcement officials told Reuters.
The incident took place late Monday when Trump’s helicopter was en route to a campaign event. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot reported that a green laser beam was directed at the aircraft as it flew over Queens, prompting immediate coordination with the New York Police Department (NYPD).
Police said the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Jonathan Alvarez, was arrested near his residence after officers traced the source of the laser. “Pointing a laser at any aircraft is a serious crime that endangers lives,” a police spokesperson told The Associated Press, adding that the matter was referred to federal authorities.
The Secret Service confirmed that the helicopter carrying the president was targeted, but clarified that the flight continued safely to its destination. “There was no impact on the safety of the protectee,” a Secret Service official told CNN, while stressing that the agency treats such incidents with utmost seriousness.
Federal prosecutors said Alvarez now faces charges of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. According to court documents cited by The Washington Post, he is expected to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge later this week.
The FAA reported more than 13,000 laser strikes against aircraft nationwide in 2023, the highest on record. Officials say that such incidents pose a growing risk to aviation safety, particularly for law enforcement, medical, and executive flights.
Security analysts told NBC News that the incident underscores the heightened security environment around Trump’s campaign travel, where even relatively low-tech threats are treated as potential risk.
