BRESLAU — Local airport staff is warning residents of the dangers of shining laser lights at airplanes after a laser was pointed at a Cessna as it was about to land at the Region of Waterloo International Airport on Monday night.

No was hurt and the flight path was not derailed, but there is potential for harm, said airport supervisor Currie Russell.

Just after 6:30 p.m., a pilot with the Waterloo Wellington Flying Club was approaching a landing on the runway. At about 1,800 feet, the pilot reported two instances of green laser light coming from the Breslau area.

The pilot was able to land the plane.

The incident was reported to Waterloo Regional Police. No one has been arrested.

Russell said the potential for harm is great because the laser light floods the cockpit and can compromise a pilot's vision.

"Once it goes through the cockpit, it scatters the light everywhere," he said.

For the pilot who looks into the beam of light, the effect can be blinding, Russell said.

A Transport Canada database shows three local reports of laser incidents in 2015 and one now in 2016.

In one incident on Sept, 18, 2015, an aircraft with Sky Regional Airlines from Dallas, Texas, flying to Toronto reported a green laser light from the regional airport area.

Report of aircraft getting hit with lasers is a nationwide concern, Russell said.

At a bi-annual meeting of Canadian aviation safety officers which includes airport administration, air carriers and air traffic controllers, the issue of lasers is a top safety concern, along with drones flying in air space.

"It's a big issue in the industry," he said.

Russell said some people use lasers for fun, while others who enjoy astronomy use the lasers to point at comets.

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"Some people don't understand the impact it could have," he said.

Russell said education is key, as well as ensuring people know that using lasers to cause interference and flying drones near aircraft is a criminal offence.