The person at the center of this case
Aircraft pilots and passengers at Yakima Air Terminal
Cold Case · Open
269 days waiting
COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT LASER INCIDENTS
Justice for Aircraft pilots and passengers at Yakima Air Terminal — the trail went cold in 2026, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🔍
evidence
Lead #1What specific geographic locations or landmarks around YKM are the lasers being directed from, and can triangulation of multiple pilot reports pinpoint the source?
👁️
witness
Lead #2Have pilots captured photographic or video evidence of the green laser strikes that could help identify the equipment or perpetrator?
🎯
suspect
Lead #3Is this the work of a single individual or multiple coordinated actors, and what is their motivation—recklessness, protest, or deliberate endangerment?
Since January 2026, Yakima Air Terminal in Washington has experienced a dramatic surge in laser incidents targeting aircraft on approach, with at least 19 confirmed reports to the FAA in the first quarter alone—likely a significant undercount. A green laser has been repeatedly illuminating and tracking cockpits of private, commercial, medical, and military aircraft, creating serious safety hazards for flight crews and passengers. The FBI and multiple federal agencies are actively investigating to identify the individual(s) responsible, and they are seeking detailed information from pilots and the public about laser source locations and any photographic or video evidence.
Case
#2625
FBI Seattle Field Office, in coordination with FAA, Yakima Police Department, and multiple federal agencies
Try asking
Claim this imported case
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
10 uploads25 AI questions/day
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
⏰
timeline
Lead #4Why did laser incidents spike dramatically starting in January 2026, and are there any triggering events or patterns correlating with specific times or aircraft types?
📍
location
Lead #5Are there residential, commercial, or elevated areas near YKM with clear sightlines to aircraft approach corridors that should be prioritized for investigation?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
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.
Timeline of Events
🕵️
2026-01-01
Laser incidents begin
Dramatic increase in laser strikes on arriving aircraft begins at YKM
📋
2026-03-31
FAA reports compiled
19 confirmed laser strike reports made to FAA from January 1 to March 31, 2026, with likely additional unreported incidents
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2026
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Leave a comment
Comments
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2026
Last Updated:September 26, 2026