Police investigate laser-pointing incident involving United Airlines flight over Mattituck

New York State Police and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating a laser-pointing incident involving a commercial airline flying over Mattituck late Monday night, state police said. 

The first officer of a United Airlines flight from Newark (N.J) Airport to T.F Green Airport in Warwick, R.I. reported that a green laser beam was observed in the cockpit as the plane traveled in a northwest direction approximately 11,000 feet over Mattituck. The FAA New York Terminal Radar Approach Control Office also confirmed the incident, state police said.

T.F Green Airport police reported the incident to New York State Police at about 11:30 p.m. A flight matching that description landed in Rhode Island shortly before 11 p.m., records show.

Units from the State Police barracks in Riverside and the Southold Town Police Department responded and searched the area but were unable to find the person who pointed the laser, state police said.

The New York State Police is continuing the investigation with support from the FAA Rhode Island Office. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New York State Police at 631-756-3300 and all calls will be kept confidential, police said.

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