A Malaysia Airlines flight MH-184 carrying 159 passengers was reportedly affected by a laser beam while approaching Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. The pilot’s vision was temporarily affected, causing the aircraft to circle before landing safely at 11.25 pm. Airport authorities lodged a police complaint and an investigation is underway.

Kolkata, Aug 9: A Malaysia Airlines flight MH-184 from Kuala Lumpur carrying 159 passengers faced a problem while approaching the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here for landing as the pilot was distracted by a laser beam, airport sources said on Sunday.

The flight was scheduled to land at 11.20 pm on Saturday, but when the aircraft was approximately eight nautical miles from the runway, the pilot reportedly noticed a bright laser beam flashing towards the cockpit from the Madhyamgram-Barasat side, the sources said.

The aircraft finally landed safely at around 11.25 pm and all passengers and crew members were reported safe, they said.

The sudden laser flash reportedly affected the pilot's vision, momentarily disorienting him, owing to which the aircraft could not land at the scheduled time and had to circle in the sky before making another approach.