FBI: Laser strikes targeting aircraft on the rise.

Pointing lasers at aircraft, the FBI says it’s no joke.

In fact, our nation’s top law enforcement agency is now offering a $10,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest of people pointing lasers at planes and helicopters.

The FBI is launching a nationwide campaign to crack down on laser strikes, it’s on the rise and El Paso is no exception.

“Since 2005 laser strikes on aircraft have gone up 1,100 percent,” said FBI Special Agent Douglas Lindquist.

Lindquist says laser strikes are occurring at an alarming rate.

“These pointers are extremely powerful and people don’t realize how powerful they are and it’s just something that’s out there and people can get there hands on it,” said Lindquist.

The FBI along with the Federal Aviation Administration started monitoring cases in 2005.

Pointing a laser at an aircraft can cost you five years in prison.

That’s why the FBI launched a pilot program in several cities to raise awareness and agents say it worked.

Laser strikes can temporarily blind pilots or permanently damage eye sight.

“People on the ground, they can face a dangerous situation with an aircraft that’s out of control,” said Lindquist.

It’s happened in El Paso.

“Here in El Paso we’ve had about two-dozen incidents that happened in 2012, same number roughly in 2013 and we are on pace for 2014 as well,” said Lindquist.

“It hit me before I could turn away,” said air ambulance pilot Kyle Arnett

Last month, in a story you saw only on ABC-7, we told about how Arnett was struck by a laser.

“It could of cost my life, it could of cost the life of people on the ground,” said Arnett.

“There’s an idea that this is a prank, this is a federal crime with a serious penalty of five years and a $250,000 fine”

The FBI will be offering the $10,000 reward anywhere in the U.S. for the next 90 days.