Pilots use this verb when someone on the ground intentionally tracks their aircraft with an intense beam of light. The light refracts through the flight deck windows, temporarily blinding the crew and destroying their night vision during critical phases of flight like approach and landing. It is a severe safety hazard and a federal crime.
Heard on the job
Tower, Delta 442, we just got lasered from the left side, somewhere near the highway interchange.
Insider tip
Crews are trained to look away immediately, hand over the controls to the unaffected pilot, and report the coordinates to air traffic control.