Police are hunting someone who put an aeroplane in danger earlier this week.

On Monday at around 8.30pm officers received a report from Air Traffic Control at Ronaldsway airport.

Someone shone a green laser pointer into the cockpit of a commercial flight travelling from Liverpool to the Isle of Man.

The aircraft was on its final approach to landing at Ronaldsway airport when the incident occurred.

The aircraft in was able to continue to Ronaldsway Airport and land safely without any further incident.

The beam of the laser was believed to have come from the area of Onchan Head.

Detective Inspector Gavin Callow said: ’The use of laser pointers may seem innocent and good fun at the time. However, the act of shining a high intensity laser beam at the cockpit of an aircraft is not only highly irresponsible but reckless.

’This could cause harm to those in charge of the aircraft and ultimately endanger all those on board.’

The act of shining a laser into a cockpit is possibly an offence triable on information under Section 73 of the Air Navigation Order 2015.

Namely to do this is tantamount to endangering the safety of aircraft.

Those found guilty of committing such an offence could receive up to five years imprisonment.

The act is viewed in a similar light to flying drones near airports, as seen widely reported just a couple of years ago.

In late 2018 and early 2019, airports in London were affected by drone sightings on site.

On January 8, 2019, flights out of London Heathrow were suspended for over an hour.

And between December 19 and 21, 2018, more than 140,000 people at London Gatwick had their travel plans disrupted after drones were spotted above the airport.

Shining a laser at an aircraft is seen as just as potentially dangerous as these drone incidents.

The police reiterated: ’If you have any information as to the identity of the person responsible or if you are that person we would urge you to come forward and speak to the police.

’If you have information but wish to remain anonymous please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111’.