Of course when I got into work this morning I had everal emails on this incident....

here is one... (emphasis and comments added by me)

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Laser Burns Delta Pilot's Eyes While Landing
Sep. 29, 2004

An airline pilot flying above the Salt Lake International Airport says he was burned in the eye by a laser.
Jed Boal Reporting

A dangerous moment in the cockpit of a passenger jet with a bright flash of light and a mystery in the sky. Federal investigators are trying to find out who shined a laser into the cockpit of a passenger jet as it approached Salt Lake International Airport last week. The light apparently burned the retina of one of the Delta pilots. Investigators want to piece together exactly what happened.

Laser pointers have been available and cheap for nearly ten years. More potent professional lasers are easily available. But investigators say someone put the passengers, the pilot and the public at risk with some kind of laser.

On approach last Wednesday night, a Delta flight from Dallas had a strange encounter with laser light. The Transportation Safety Administration confirms both pilots said they saw a laser beam in the cockpit five miles out.

The plane landed, the first officer later felt stinging in his eye and doctors determined the laser had burned his retina.

Earl Morris, Salt Lake TSA Director, says they are working with the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force to find out whether it was a prank or something more serious.

Earl Morris, Federal Security Director: “We’re looking at it. We haven’t ruled anything out. It could be anything from a toy to something more serious than that. We’re just not really sure.”

But an FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin last year said, "laser pointers, handheld lasers and other bright light sources are being pointed at helicopters and aircraft from the ground at an alarming rate." More than 200 times since 1997 in the Western Region, according to the FAA.

The FAA report says a little laser penlight can and has affected aircraft as high as 1500 feet up. But Morris says they don't believe the Delta incident was caused by a little laser light.

Earl Morris: “Obviously a laser hit the plane and had enough intensity to it that it did damage to the retina of the pilot."

Doctor Michael Teske of the Moran Eye Center says it would take prolonged exposure to truly burn the retina, 10 or more seconds. I am sure he meant with a laser pointer--R.L.

Dr. Michael Teske: “If you purposely tried to look in one, you might be able to do it, but you'd have to force yourself not to blink once or deviate off the same spot in the retina."

Flash-blindness is more likely the kind of dazzling effect you experience after a flash-bulb goes off. Normal vision returns in several seconds to a minute, it could be caused by the quick passing of a laser light.

Dr. Michael Teske: “Thirty seconds to a minute in someone who's landing a plane or driving an automobile, where they're temporarily can't see, well can be very dangerous."

Delta won't comment. The TSA director understands the pilot will be fine.