A Gore man has been arrested over laser strikes on the Otago Rescue Helicopter last month.
He appeared in the Gore District Court on Wednesday charged with endangering transport. He faces up to 14 years in prison if found guilty.
Shining a laser at an aircraft can cause temporarily blind the pilot, which can cause them to lose control.
Fortunately, the pilot and crew members on board the aircraft at the time were uninjured by the incident.
"I think the majority of the public would agree that deliberately endangering an aircraft, which has the sole purpose of saving lives, is absolutely shocking behaviour," says Gore Police Detective Leigh Waddell.
"Thankfully on this occasion there were no patients on board at the time."
Police would still like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident or saw a driver fleeing from the area afterwards around Gore.
Anyone with information can contact Det Waddell at the Gore Police Station on 03 203 9300, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Newshub.
