Incident
On 29 November 2016, at 22:22 local time, the crew of a KLM Embraer E170 (flight from Amsterdam to Krakow) reported a green laser illumination while landing on Runway 25 at Krakow-Balice Airport (EPKK). The laser was observed at a distance of 2.2 NM from the threshold of Runway 25.
Details
The crew reported the laser to the airport tower controller (EPKK TWR). The controller relayed the information to the Airport Operations Duty Officer (DOPL), who then notified the Shift Commander of the Border Guard Post in Balice (PSG). During a subsequent conversation with the aircraft commander, the Border Guard officer was informed that no pilot was blinded; only the laser beam was observed. The pilot estimated the laser source location near an illuminated train standing at a railway station. No formal written report was filed by the pilot.
Using the provided information, the Border Guard and DOPL estimated the laser source to be at the Krakow-Mydlniki railway station. According to the regulation on the use of lasers in airspace protection zones (Rozp. MIiR z dn. 6 listopada 2015 r.), the source was located in a zone where emitting a laser beam towards an aircraft could create a hazard to the aircraft, crew, or passengers.
At 22:30, the PSG shift manager telephoned the Duty Officer of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Krakow to dispatch a patrol to the indicated area. Police did not identify the perpetrator.
Cause
The cause of the incident was the emission of a laser beam towards the aircraft.
Conclusion
The investigation did not result in any safety recommendations.