Buckeye Man Sentenced to Ten Months in Prison for Laser Strikes on United States Air Force F-35 Fighter Jets

PHOENIX, Ariz – William Wilson, 56, of Buckeye, Arizona, was sentenced on June 15, by United States District Judge Steven P. Logan to ten months in prison for aiming a laser pointer at U.S. Air Force F-35 Fighter Jets. “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,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Interfering with any aircraft is dangerous and the United States Attorney’s Office can and will protect our pilots by bringing bad actors to justice.” “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,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day. “The FBI advises people to think twice before committing this crime because we’re focused on identifying and investigating people who do, and a federal prosecution could lead you straight to prison.” Wilson struck multiple United States Air Force F-35 jets training in the airspace around Luke Air Force Base with lasers between September 2024 and January 2025. On the night of January 8, 2025, an FBI surveillance plane captured video of the laser strikes coming from Wilson’s residence in Buckeye. Pilots of the FBI plane and of two F-35 jets were all struck by lasers that night. Wilson’s home was later searched, and two lasers, one red and one green, were found in his possession. Wilson admitted to agents that he had pointed the lasers at planes on several occasions. On July 29, 2025, Wilson was indicted on four counts of Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft. Wilson later pleaded guilty to two of the counts.