COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT LASER INCIDENTS

Yakima Air Terminal - McAllister Field (YKM) Washington State January 2026 to Present Since the beginning of 2026, the airport in Yakima, Washington, Yakima Air Terminal - McAllister Field (YKM), has experienced a dramatic increase of laser incidents involving arriving aircraft, including reported strikes on private, commercial, medical, and military aircraft. For example, 19 reports have been made to the FAA from January 1, 2026, to March 31, 2026, but this number is likely underreported. Pilots around the airport have experienced a green laser illuminating and tracking the cockpit of their aircraft while on approach to land and flying near YKM. Lasers pointed at an aircraft can interfere with landing and can increase the risk of injury to flight crew, passengers, and citizens within the local area. The FBI is working with multiple local and federal agencies to identify and locate the individual(s) responsible for these laser strikes and is seeking information from the public regarding these incidents. If you are a pilot and have experienced a laser strike in the vicinity of YKM, any information you can provide would be helpful in this investigation. Information includes: your name, phone number, elevation, heading, coordinates, approach, and any reference toward where the laser may have come from such as landmark or relative bearing and distance or coordinates. Any photo or video evidence of the event may also prove helpful.