A teenager who aimed a laser at the cabins of three commercial aircraft and the police Eagle helicopter in Auckland has been sentenced to four and a-half months' home detention.
Pravikash Chandra, 19, was sentenced by Judge Charles Blackie at the Manukau District Court this morning after earlier pleading guilty to four charges of endangering transport.
Chandra was charged in January after Counties Manukau Police said the planes were targeted with a laser as they were making final approaches to Auckland International Airport.
When the police helicopter was sent to investigate about 10.15pm, it too was targeted.
Police at the time said the Eagle was able to trace the source of the laser to an address on Great South Rd in Manukau.
They said crew in all four aircraft suffered temporary flash blindness.
