A man who aimed a laser beam through window of passenger jet while waiting to collect his father from Luton Airport has been jailed for four months.
The pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit of the Boeing 737 with 129 passengers on board were forced to duck as the intense green light shone in their eyes.
Both men were left "dazzled" by the light to a point where they couldn't see out of the window.
Christian Webb, 25, also shone the light at the air traffic control tower at the airport, prompting staff to alert police. Officers went to a nearby car park and there found Webb sitting behind the wheel of his van waiting for his father.
Beverley Cripps prosecuting at Luton crown court on Friday told how the young roofer handed over a small laser "pointer" which was found to produce a red beam of light. But when the vehicle was searched a larger laser pen was discovered which emitted a powerful green beam of light. Webb of Gleneagles Close, Watford, Herts pleaded guilty to recklessly and negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft and its passengers. The judge told him "This was a thoroughly stupid and dangerous thing to do.