Deaf Man Sentenced to 18 Months for Targeting Delta Pilot with Laser Pointer Near Buffalo Airport

A federal court has sentenced 31-year-old Joseph L. Crapsi of Cheektowaga, New York, to 18 months in prison for aiming a laser pointer at a Delta Air Lines aircraft on final approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Crapsi had pleaded guilty after federal prosecutors charged him in connection with the March 2, 2024 incident, when a Delta flight DL-2334 was targeted during its landing approach. The case highlights ongoing concerns about the safety risks posed by laser pointer strikes on commercial aircraft.

The incident unfolded as Delta flight DL-2334 was making its final approach to Buffalo Niagara International Airport, flying within a few miles of Crapsi’s home. The pilot reported a laser strike coming from the vicinity of Crapsi’s residence, prompting an investigation by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police Department and the FBI. Neighbors corroborated the suspicion, stating they had observed a laser beam shining skyward from Crapsi’s home multiple times.

Officers sought probable cause and knocked on Crapsi’s door, where he invited them inside. Police accompanied him to his bedroom and saw a laser pointer in plain sight. Based on these observations and witness statements, they seized the device as evidence and arrested Crapsi. His attorneys had challenged the search and arrest as lacking probable cause and moved to suppress the evidence, but the court ruled against this argument and upheld the validity of the police actions.

Crapsi entered a guilty plea to violating federal law under 18 U.S. Code § 39A, which prohibits aiming laser pointers at aircraft and carries penalties of up to five years in prison. U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo ultimately sentenced Crapsi to 18 months of federal incarceration. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles M. Kruly and Craig R. Gestring, underlining the severity with which the government treats laser pointer offenses involving aircraft safety.

This conviction arrives amid record numbers of laser pointer incidents reported across the United States. In 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recorded 13,304 laser strikes on aircraft, an almost 80% increase from seven years earlier. Though the total declined slightly to 12,840 incidents in 2024 and 10,993 in 2025, reports remain alarmingly high. In just the first half of 2026, over 3,300 incidents had already been documented, indicating this remains a persistent hazard to aviation safety.

Laser pointers pose serious risks to pilots due to their ability to temporarily blind or impair vision during critical phases of flight. The FAA notes the highest incidence of laser strikes typically occurs on Fridays and Saturdays, with a seasonal peak in October and November. Some cases have had grave consequences—for example, a Virgin Atlantic flight to Tel Aviv had to return to London after the pilot’s vision deteriorated severely from laser exposure.

The federal prohibition against aiming lasers at aircraft came into effect in 2012 as a direct response to the rising frequency and dangers of such attacks. Law enforcement agencies have since prioritized enforcement efforts, emphasizing the severe safety implications and potential for tragedy when pilots are visually compromised during flight operations.

Crapsi’s case underscores the judiciary’s readiness to impose stiff penalties on offenders to deter such acts. With aviation safety at stake, federal authorities continue to investigate laser pointer incidents aggressively, coordinating with local police and the FBI to apprehend perpetrators. The sentencing sends a clear message regarding the seriousness of this offense and its impact on the aviation community.