Nipani police are investigating a reported laser beam incident involving an aircraft flying from Ahmedabad to Belagavi. Four days ago, the pilot alerted Air Traffic Control at Mopa Airport in Goa that a laser beam had been directed at the aircraft while it was in flight. Based on the latitude and longitude coordinates shared by aviation authorities, the Civil Aviation Administration asked Nipani and Gadhinglaj police to investigate the source.
Police teams searched several suspected locations but have not yet identified the exact spot or the person responsible. Preliminary findings suggest that the laser beam may have originated from the northeast side of Nipani town, close to the Karnataka–Maharashtra border near Gadhinglaj. PSI Ramesh More investigated under the guidance of PI Ajay Sindkar, and the findings have been reported to the Chikkodi Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Meanwhile, the Belagavi Airport administration has issued a public warning against directing laser beams or powerful searchlights into the sky near airport airspace. In an official post on X (formerly Twitter), the Airports Authority of India’s Belagavi Airport stated that high-intensity lasers can cause temporary “flash blindness” to pilots, especially during critical phases such as take-off and landing, posing a serious risk to flight safety.
Airport Director Thiagarajan said even a few seconds of impaired vision at high speed could lead to a major accident. Authorities have also warned that directing lasers at aircraft is a serious offence punishable under law, and strict action including criminal charges may be taken against those responsible.
With Belagavi Airport witnessing increasing flight operations and passenger traffic, officials have urged citizens and event organisers to use lighting responsibly and avoid pointing lasers or high-intensity lights toward the sky near the airport. They stressed that ensuring air safety is a collective responsibility and even a moment of negligence could endanger hundreds of passengers.