Subject Arrested After Targeting CHP Aircraft with Laser Strikes near I-5 and SR-91
WESTMINSTER,CA – Officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) arrested an individual on the evening of April 17, 2026, after a police aircraft was targeted by laser strikes during an aerial patrol.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:04 p.m. while the CHP Fullerton Air Unit, operating Air 51, was patrolling the vicinity of Interstate 5 and State Route 91. The flight crew reported receiving multiple laser strikes from the surface streets below. While Air 51 monitored the suspect’s location from the air, CHP Westminster ground officers responded to the source of the illumination.
Officers located the subject and placed them under arrest for violation of California Penal Code section 247.5, which prohibits the willful and malicious discharge of a laser at an occupied aircraft. Under this statute, individuals may face fines up to $2,000 and imprisonment ranging from 16 months to three years.
Law enforcement officials highlighted the significant safety risks associated with laser strikes, noting that such actions can cause pilot distraction, temporary blindness, and glare, which increase the risk of a catastrophic crash.
