US authorities have charged a man with pointing a laser at the presidential helicopter carrying Donald Trump as it departed the White House, court documents revealed Monday.
According to an affidavit, a Secret Service officer observed Jacob Samuel Winkler, 33, directing a red laser beam toward Marine One from a sidewalk outside the White House grounds as the helicopter took off on Saturday.
Winkler was immediately detained and charged with aiming a laser at an aircraft — a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Officials said his actions risked flash blindness and disorientation for the pilots, particularly during low-altitude flight near other helicopters and landmarks like the Washington Monument, creating the danger of a collision.
After being handcuffed, Winkler reportedly dropped to his knees, saying he should apologize to Trump. He later told investigators he often pointed his laser at objects such as stop signs and did not realize it was illegal to aim it at Marine One.
Trump was en route to Virginia to deliver a speech at the American Cornerstone Institute, US media reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration has repeatedly warned that lasers pose serious threats to aviation safety, with 5,913 incidents recorded this year alone.
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