An Air Malta pilot recounted in court this morning how a laser beam hit him in his eyes as an Air Malta flight from Frankfurt was coming in to land.

Mario Bezzina, a first officer, said that as the plane was coming in to land on June 16, the cockpit suddenly lit up with a green light which was later identified as a laser beam.

Mr Bezzina was giving evidence in the case instituted against David Camilleri, of Rabat, who is accused of careless or negligent behaviour and endangering an aircraft and its passengers when he directed a laser beam at it.

James Fenech, who was the captain of the Airbus, said the aircraft was flying at 2,500 feet when a powerful green light lit the cockpit about five times. At one time the beam came into his eyes and he experienced a 'black spot' which lasted some 10 minutes, although he could still actually see.

First Officer Bezzina said 99.9 per cent of the flight was on auto pilot but pilots took the controls for landing and take-off. Malta International Airport was not certified for a full auto pilot landing.

Ingrid Micallef, who carries out inspections of runways and is also involved in security, said she received a report from the pilots about this incident.

She said the pilot had pinpointed the source of the laser beam to Independence Avenue in Mosta.

Police Constable Julian Vella said he had been asked to investigate the laser incident. On arriving at Mosta he saw the laser being directed at houses and cars, and it even illuminated the police car.

The case was put off to December 11 for judgment.

In his police statement, the accused said he did not mean to cause any harm and he had been using the laser to point to a star because he is an astronomer.