FAA: Lasers pointed at 11 planes over NJ

The Federal Aviation Administration says that at least 11 commercial airlines reported lasers aimed at them Wednesday night over New Jersey, four of the planes were near Newark-Liberty International Airport.

Initial reports indicated five pilots of five different planes had reported the incidents. By Thursday morning, the number had more than doubled. 

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey says the incidents occurred between 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

Three flights were at 3,000 feet four miles south of the Outerbridge Crossing, which connects Perth Amboy to Staten Island, New York. One flight was headed to LaGuardia Airport

The source of the laser beams has not been pinpointed.  All of the planes- American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, JetBlue and Republic Airlines- landed safely and without incident.

The website, LIVEATC.NET, posted the audio of two pilots reporting the incident.

On June 5, planes over Long Island and New Jersey also reported laser incidents.

Pointing a laser at a plane is a federal crime. There had been nearly 2,000 laser incidents across the country through May 15, putting incidents at a record pace.

Locally, LaGuardia had seen 36, Newark had 21 incidents, and JFK had at least 5 laser incidents by mid-May.

In 2014, there were 3,894 laser incidents reported in the U.S. by airlines.