From the Orange County Register:
Man gets prison for pointing laser at airliners
Dana Welch of Orange was first person to be convicted of laser interference with pilots.
Dana Welch, 36, of Orange was sentenced Monday to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for pointing a laser beam at two aircraft.
LOS ANGELES — An Orange County man who aimed a laser beam at two airliners on approach to John Wayne Airport was sentenced Monday in Los Angeles to 2 1/2 years in federal prison for disrupting the flights.
When found guilty in April, Dana Christian Welch, 37, of Orange, was the first person in the nation to be convicted at trial of interfering with pilots by aiming lasers at their planes, federal officials said.
Welch aimed a hand-held laser at two Boeing 7-series jets as the pilots were about to land the aircraft at John Wayne Airport on the night of May 21, 2008, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherilyn Peace Garnett said.
The first plane, a United Airlines jet, was carrying more than 180 passengers and crew members. The second, operated by Alaska Airlines, was carrying more than 80 people.
The laser beam struck a United pilot in the eye, causing "flash blindness," Garnett said.
When Welch pointed the laser at the Alaska plane, one pilot ducked under a glare shield and the other pilot delayed a critical turn necessary to land the plane.
After he was arrested the next day, Welch admitted he had pointed the laser at the planes and a law enforcement helicopter that had been dispatched to investigate the incidents.
A U.S. District Court jury in downtown Los Angeles acquitted Welch of charges that he attempted to interfere with the pilots of the helicopter and a Delta Air Lines flight.
While several people across the country have pleaded guilty to federal charges of pointing lasers at aircraft, Welch was the first to be convicted of interfering with pilots by beaming lasers at their planes, the U.S. Attorney's Office noted.
Welch was also ordered by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert J. Timlin to serve three years of supervised release upon his release from prison, Garnett said.
22 comments:
Pastorius,
It could just be that this guys a jerk. For all we know this could have been his idea of a joke.
my idea of a joke for him would involve a rope and a tree.
I can't imagine that pointing a toy laser at a plane warrants 3 years in prison and I highly doubt this put he plane in any danger what so ever.
This guy looks like he deserves prison time. His face tells it all.
Anonymous I,
I'm sorry, where did I miss the point that this was "a toy laser".
You picked up that piece of information from somewhere, I would imagine, or else, you would not have asserted it as fact. I say that because I can tell you are an intellectually honest person.
I wonder, though, if it was just "a toy laser", why did the airline pilots have to shield their vision, and why did they miss their turn?
Maybe they were just drunk like all Infidels, huh?
Anonymous II,
I'd say, by the look of the man, that he's already spent time in prison.
And, that's where his conversion probably took place.
Of course, that is just conjecture.
Thing is, I can think of no reason anyone would want to endanger an airliner other than sheer hatred.
I don't think this could be anyone's idea of a joke. Though, it could merely be the work of a madman.
That being said, my money is on his having become a Muslim.
if some terrible chain of events occurred becuase the pilots were blinded by the laser, and make no mistake it could have,
then 300 people could have died.
so maybe you cant immagine it anonymous but I can.
and gues what? thier is no such thing as a "toy laser" all lasers are lasers, meaning a laser capable of projecting a laser line, not just a light, or flashlight is dangerous becuase it can permanently damage someones vision. they all cary warning labels.
this guys actions could easily have resulted in catastrophic deaths. especially if the pilots took immediate evasive action for what they thought at the time was laser giudance for a some kind of surface to air missile, and they belkeived radical action was required becuase of imminent death.
so before you dismiss what he did as not a big deal take the possible consequences into consideration including the fact that a pilot could have his livelihood taken away from him becuase his vision was permanently impaired from the laser.
I was confused so I looked up the definition of "evasive" and my definition was the same as the dictionary. tending or seeking to evade; elusive or evanescent. In other words he would have flown away without causing harm to his plane or other planes. It would make no sense to take "evasive action" and slam in to a building or another plane. The one plane was already on the ground, meaning there was no "evasive action" to take at that point. Planes don't exactly take off in the blink of an eye. The second just in case you didn't read, missed it's turn in line to land. So it did take some kind of action whether it be evasive or otherwise and nothing catastrophic happened. Was the guy wrong, yes. Rumcrook do you need to stop believing in what you see on movies, yes. I think you have seen Final Destination too many times bro "if some terrible chain of events occurred becuase the pilots were blinded by the laser, and make no mistake it could have". What if when the second pilot was supposed to land there was something on the runway and they blew a tire and all died. We could speculate all day. Guy was wrong needs to grow and is an idiot.
Pastorius,
I wouldn't put your money anywhere yet. Not all evil is jihad related. It could just be that this guy is a sociopath and this was his idea of a good time. We don't know. I heard somewhere that there are some people who get their kicks by deliberately driving backwards on the German Autobahn, hoping to cause an accident. This guy might have been doing something similar to that. We don't know what his motive was.
Damien said: Not all evil is jihad related.
I say: Yes, I know. But, certain types of behavior are almost always related to Jihad.
For instance, when you hear there was a "suicide bombing", you instantly think Jihad, right?
Well, when I hear of an attack on an airliner, I instantly think Jihad.
And, history would bear me out on that. The preponderance of attacks on airliners have been the work of Jihadis.
I've written on this before. I believe Musliims are obsessed with airliners because they are magical to worshippers of Allah. Remember, the idea of a "Magic Carpet Ride" came from the Arab world. And, Mohammed flew to "Jerusalem" in his "Night Flight".
For all their obsession with flying, Muslims still do not produce planes or Jets.
For them, flight is still in the realm of the magical.
I think Jewel nailed it here:
2. The West had ships that carried goods from hither to thither. They created large birds of steel, that could fly them to and fro, over a great many miles. The West also had music, beautiful music, played skilfully by well-trained musicians. And many other ways to entertain themselves. 3. Compared to the House of Allah and his prophet, may wasps nest in his stomach for eternity, the West was very like the Paradise written in their holy book, which told of Virgins, and rivers of wine and endless pleasures, if the believers would but die and kill for Allah. 4. And it made the lawless savages angry, because they must die and kill in order to attain the very Paradise which already was in the West! --- from The Blasphemous Book of Queen Kafirtiti (Battle of the Melody, verses 2-4) by Jewel
A pilot flying a Delta Air Lines jet was injured by a laser that illuminated the cockpit of the aircraft as it approached Salt Lake City International Airport last week, U.S. officials said.
The plane's two pilots reported that the Boeing 737 had been five miles from the airport when they saw a laser beam inside the cockpit, said officials familiar with government reports of the Sept. 22 incident. The flight, which originated in Dallas, landed without further incident at about 9:30 p.m. local time.
A short while later, however, the first officer felt a stinging sensation in one eye. A doctor who examined the pilot determined that he had suffered a burned retina from exposure to a laser device, the officials said.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spokeswoman Yolanda Clark confirmed the incident, but declined to provide details.
"TSA is aware of the incident, and we are working with the airline in conducting an investigation to try and determine the cause of the incident," Miss Clark said.
She would not say whether TSA considers the incident a possible security threat to commercial aircraft. Other officials said the incident was serious enough that the pilot will be unable to fly for at least a week.
instance 2
Laser attack
US naval intelligence officer Lt. Jack Daley and his Canadian pilot made a third pass over the Russian ship. April 4, 1997 was a bright, cloudless day over the Strait of Juan de Fuca, north of Seattle, Washington. Daley and the pilot were flying a helicopter and photographing a Russian cargo ship, the Kapitan Man, which was suspected of spying on US submarines. As Daley photographed the ship’s antenna array he saw a blinding flash. He turned his head and rubbed his eyes.
After returning from the mission, Lt. Daley and the pilot began to have headaches and visual problems. One of the photographs of the ship showed a laser light shining from the bridge of the Kapitan Man. Both men suffered permanent eye damage, and medical examination of the men was consistent with laser-induced retinal damage.
in conclusion fuck off shitstain
Rumcrook™
Whatever Dana Welch's motive was, I hope he gets punished severely!
Rumcrook,
I think you have proved the point.
Thank you.
That Anonymous commenter must be Dana Christian Welch's mother.
The anonymous tip is not by his mother.
She died shotting dope in the 90's
Dana never really grew up and at 37 is still swillin' beer,smokin dope,and pointing lasers at planes like at 15 year old because mentally,he never grew up.
He is always in trouble and never has a job
Dana,you are a piece of crap
Steve B.
Remember me asshole?
Dana is right where he needs to be.
Right now he dying for some firewater
Steve B,
I am Dana Welchs brother. Our mother did die but it wasn't in the 90's nor was it caused from a drug overdose. If you dont know the facts about somebody I suggest you keep your mouth shut. And if you knew my brother or hung around him its say a lot about yourself.
To dana welch's fathead liar brother:
Dana tells everyone he lost his mother to the needle
I guess it was ther late 80's
Dana isa grown child that will always be a loser and I havent seen him since 92!!!!!
I knew if i searched his loser name it would pop up with all the crackhead/alcoholic antics.
He still lives with uncle jeffy and you all in the same house of losers
Fridgebuzz??
Gee,what a surprise.
Will you be Dana'a cellmate soon???
How many Dui's do you,Jeff,and Dana have all together?
20??
While many things are true that have been said here, it bears telling that I spent several years growing up with Dana, and he is not the portrait that has been painted in these comments. Was this act unwise? Probably. Misguided? Almost certainly. However, Dana is much more than the choices he has made that have had these negative consequences in his life. He has been there for me many times at my greatest need, and I would do the same for him if ever he were to ask.
His brother, whom I have only met a few times is an upstanding citizen, and I doubt very seriously that he will ever wind up running afoul of the law. I would be surprised if he even got a traffic ticket. So much for him being Dana's cell mate.
I know for a fact that what Dana did had nothing at all to do with any sort of jihad, or terrorist plot, or attempt to harm anyone. That is simply not Dana's nature. I also talked to him on the phone just prior to him being incarcerated.
I miss being able to talk to him, and I eagerly await his release.
B.G.S.
I wonder if he even thinks about his son. Probably doesnt. If he does, call 602-754-7739 or contact Cactijen@Gmail.com.
Eli? lol he is only continuing the legacy of shame, His grandfather was a fucking loser, his father is a fucking loser, and Elijah will be a fucking loser. And these comments are not based on opinion, Elijah is a sociopathic insane fuck that isolates himself due to the fact that he has no friends, He has not been seen at school for months and the last I have heard of him was that he was in a fucking mental ward, good riddance faggot i hope you get raped.
SERIOUSLY ? None of you know this guy duo why assume you do? If you had ATTENDED hisb hearings you would have heard one of the pilots comment that it looked like a "laser show" meaning he was pointing it at everything, "a kid playing with a new toy" wanting to see how far the light went. I swear you all make me sick and embarrassed to say we are from the same country
Post a Comment