The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has started an investigation into seven incidents in which laser beams were directed into plane cockpits since Christmas. While pilots from time to time encounter laser beams that stray into the cockpit on approach to an airport, the volume and span of latest occurrences have some officials worried about an organized effort to take down planes. The FBI is probing two incidents in Colorado, and one each in Ohio, Washington, Texas, New Jersey and Oregon. Laser beams can temporarily blind or disorient pilots endangering a plane. There was no evidence of a terrorist plot to use laser beams as weapons so far, but pilots were troubled by the incidents, according to reports. Earlier this month, the FBI issued a warning that there was a possibility terrorists might use laser devices as weapons. Scientists discount the possibility that pilots are merely the victims of a laser pointer from an electronics store since the distance the Laser reached required a fairly sophisticated system.

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