A LASER was shone at a military aircraft flying over Southend, risking its safety, it has been revealed.

The Civil Aviation Authority said the blue laser targeted the aircraft on June 2.

Experts say blue lasers are more dangerous than green ones because it can be harder to judge the intensity of the light.

The Ministry of Defence was unable to comment on the nature of the incident, so it is not known whether it was simply yobs targeting random aircraft.

However, a spokesman for the Civil Aviation Authority said: “Shining a laser at an aircraft in flight is a serious risk to the safety of passengers and crew, as well as people living close to airports.

“During critical phases of flight, such as take-off and landing, pilots need to employ maximum concentration.

“Being dazzled and temporarily blinded by an intense light could potentially lead to the flight crew losing control of the aircraft.” He added: “Pointing a laser at an aircraft is now a specific criminal offence and the police are becoming very good at catching the perpetrators.

“We strongly urge anyone who observes a laser being used at night in the vicinity of an airport to contact the police immediately.”

The latest incident is believed to be the only timeamilitary aircraft has been targeted by a laser in the last four years in the Southend area.

An Essex Police spokesman said the force would prosecute anyone caught shining a laser at an aircraft.

THE Echo reported in April, 2012, how two planes at Southend Airport had been targeted by lasers as they made their approach to land.

Concerns were also raised by residents in a block of flats in Southchurch Road that irresponsible neighbours may have been targeting aircraft, in July last year.

The Civil Aviation Authority recorded a passenger plane being targeted by a yob shining a green laser at it from the Southend High Street area in February of that year.

The authority recorded four similar incidents in 2011, one involving a cargo plane, and four in 2010.

This year, it has only recorded one such incident – the one involving the military aircraft.