William Wilson, a 56-year-old Buckeye, Arizona resident, has been sentenced to ten months in prison for aiming a laser pointer at U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter jets training near Luke Air Force Base.
United States District Judge Steven P. Logan handed down the sentence on June 15, 2026, following Wilson's guilty plea to two counts of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. The incidents occurred between September 2024 and January 2025, with an FBI surveillance plane capturing video of laser strikes originating from Wilson's residence on January 8, 2025. Pilots of both the FBI plane and two F-35 jets were struck that night.
During a subsequent search of Wilson's home, agents discovered two lasers, one red and one green, and Wilson admitted to pointing them at planes on multiple occasions. U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine emphasized the danger, saying, "Military pilots risk their lives to protect Americans. They should not have to worry about threats from people on the ground when they are training here at home."
FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day warned, "Directing a laser pointer at aircraft of any kind, much less an F-35 Air Force fighter jet, is extremely dangerous and a federal felony." The investigation was a joint effort by the FBI’s Phoenix Division and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Officials reiterated their commitment to holding offenders accountable for actions that jeopardize aircrew and public safety.