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Saratoga Springs Man Arrested for Lasering a State Police Helicopter

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

Photo from the cabin of a grounded Airbus H145D3. The photo on the left is without a laser strike, and the photo on the right is with a laser strike. These photos were taken in a controlled environment for demonstration purposes only with all members wearing protective eyewear. (Courtesy of New York State Police)

As Saratoga Springs man has been arrested after he allegedly pointed a laser pointer at a New York State Police Helicopter while it was conducting a training exercise. 

Daymian Massago, 20, of Saratoga Springs was arrested on June 12 and charged with Felony directing a laser at an aircraft. He’s accused of intentionally shining a laser pointer at the aircraft.

According to the New York State Police, the incident occurred on June 11, 2026, around 10:10 p.m. The helicopter, a State Police Airbus H14D3, was conducting a training exercise when the laser was shined on the aircraft. The laser caused a “temporary visual disturbance” and forced the helicopter to alter its flight path. 

Investigations determined that the laser originated from Louden Road in Saratoga Springs and Massago was arrested the next day. New York State Police confirmed to Saratoga TODAY that no troopers were injured in the lasering and the incident was reported to both the FBI and FAA. Court records indicate that no federal charges have been filed as of the time of publication.

Flight records provided by Flightradar24 show that the helicopter took off from a helipad at Albany International Airport at around 9:30 p.m. and began flying around Saratoga County at about 2000 feet barometric altitude. 

At around 10:06 p.m., the altitude of the aircraft began dropping, hitting 875 feet before climbing back to over 2000 feet at 10:12 p.m. The aircraft briefly circled Loudon Road before resuming its flight to the north. It returned to Albany International Airport around 11:40 p.m.

Lasering an aircraft is both a state and federal offense. On the federal level, offenders can face a prison sentence of up to five years in jail and up $11,000 in fines. In New York, directing a laser pointer at an aircraft is a Class E felony and can result in up to four years in prison. 

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