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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Monday Expert in the Field: Allen Drescher Talent woman recovering after alleged vicious assault by two men System flush may discolor water near SOU Historic Ashland railway depot found Education Ashland schools to implement chickenpox precautions In the new year, be sure you have your 'ICE' file ready Walker students show creative chops at Invention Convention Teacher's Tips: Second — and third — chances are there for students For a friend: AHS seniors team up to help former fellow student Environment New TAP pumps bolster Ashland's options Most residents speak against gas pipeline proposed for Southern Oregon Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Business Ashland Safeway becomes Haggen's in March Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Crosstour Dear Monty: Best start for 1st-time homebuyers Ride & Drive: 2015 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Silvio Calabi: Infiniti Q50 offers business-class driving Politics and elections State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure State News Police officer shoots armed driver near Reedsport Nation - World Obama makes Maduro’s ‘insolent Yankees’ line harder to sell Obituaries Death Notices Local radio pioneer Howard LaMere, 64, dies at Ashland home Death Notices Death Notices Death Notices Shareable Looking back: Do you remember 2014’s biggest stories? 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Expert in the Field: Allen Drescher Home Help: Timeless or trendy? Achieve both in your home decor this year Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs NEWS NOW Expert in the Field: Allen Drescher ... Ashland Calendar ... 4 things to do this week ... Expert in the Field: Allen Drescher ... Ashland Calendar ... 4 things to do this week ... CRIME Laser beam strike delays flight Allegiant plane's first officer sent for medical evaluation Comment By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune DailyTidings.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 2, 2015 @ 4:33 pm Updated Jan 2, 2015 at 5:34 PM By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 2, 2015 @ 4:33 pm Updated Jan 2, 2015 at 5:34 PM » Social News Airline officials say a laser strike New Year's Day on an aircraft inbound to the Medford airport required the plane's first officer to seek medical attention. Jessica Wheeler, a spokeswoman for Allegiant Air, said Flight 558 from Los Angeles was approaching the Medford airport Thursday when the plane's first officer was struck in the eye by a laser beam. The plane landed safely, and Wheeler said the first officer was taken to a local area physician to be cleared to fly. She did not know his condition. The plane had been scheduled for an 8:30 p.m. departure for Las Vegas that had to be pushed back to Friday morning. "We filed a report with the local law enforcement authorities and are cooperating with the FAA and FBI on any investigation they may do," she said. Medford resident Pam Bock, a passenger on the scheduled Flight 557 to Las Vegas, wrote on Facebook that passengers were told the laser strike had occurred as the plane was passing over the Siskiyou Pass, in what was described to them as an attempt "to cause laser blindness and potentially cause a crash." The Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 makes it a federal felony to knowingly point a laser beam at an aircraft. Beth Anne Steele, spokeswoman for the FBI's Portland Field Office, said she couldn't confirm whether the agency's  Medford agents would be taking part in the investigation. "Oftentimes in these cases, we can't confirm investigations," Steele said. "Certainly the FBI does have the ability to investigate laser strikes." The Medford Police Department was not immediately available Friday for comment on whether it was involved in the investigation. Since the FAA instituted a formal tracking system for laser strikes in 2005, the agency has recorded 17,283 incidents nationwide through 2013. That year alone saw 3,960 laser strikes, a 931 percent increase since 2006. The agency says the increase is partially due to the relatively recent proliferation of cheap, high-powered lasers for sale online. The laser beams can hit planes flying at higher altitudes, risking temporary or permanent eye damage to flight crew members. Reach reporter Thomas Moriarty at 541-776-4471, or by email at [email protected] . Follow him at @ThomasDMoriarty . By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune DailyTidings.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Jan. 2, 2015 @ 4:33 pm Updated Jan 2, 2015 at 5:34 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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