New York-bound plane returns to Heathrow after laser light scare

A Virgin Atlantic flight to New York with 267 people on board had to return to London's Heathrow airport following a laser light scare.

The incident took place late on Sunday night (2013 GMT) shortly after take-off, before flight VS025 returned as a precaution, the airline said. There were 252 passengers and 15 crew on board the aircraft.

A Virgin Atlantic crew member was recorded saying to Irish air traffic control that they had a "medical issue with one of the pilots after a laser incident after take-off". Scotland Yard tweeted: "Aircraft forced to return to Heathrow after being hit by a laser strike".

Virgin Atlantic said it was working with the authorities to identify the source of the laser. A total of 414 "laser incidents" in the UK were reported to the UK Civil Aviation Authority between January and June 2015. The highest number of them - 48 - was at London's Heathrow Airport.