PHOENIX — Pilots flying over Arizona are increasingly being hit with lasers, according to new data released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Nationally, the rate of laser strikes is down. In Arizona, however, the number is actually increasing.
In 2025, Arizona recorded one of the highest totals of aircraft laser strikes in the nation. Pilots reported 574 laser strikes in Arizona, placing the state fifth nationally behind California, Texas, Florida and Illinois.
Nationwide, pilots documented 10,994 laser strikes in 2025, a 14% drop from the year before but still a significant safety threat, the FAA said. Federal officials said pilots have reported 337 injuries from laser incidents since tracking began in 2010.
“Laser strikes are decreasing, thanks to a strong pilot reporting culture that is providing the data we need for community engagement and work with local law enforcement,” Ben Supko, the FAA’s associate administrator for its Security and Intelligence Organization, said in a statement. “But even one laser strike is too many when pilots have hundreds of lives in their hands.”
Arizona’s laser strikes remain stubbornly high despite the national decline
According to FAA data, in 2023 and 2024, Arizona had 558 and 550 laser strikes. In 2025, there were 574.
So far in 2026, 42 strikes have been recorded.
An FAA outreach campaign last year targeted states with elevated reports, including Arizona, and provided training for local agencies on investigating laser incidents and prosecuting offenders.
The agency warns that offenders face penalties, including fines up to $11,000 per violation and additional state and local charges.
The FAA encourages pilots and the public to report laser strikes to local law enforcement and through the agency’s reporting system.
