When I reported the story this morning, it was one of the top news stories. Just typing "Asiana" and "laser" into Google News, it seems that it made front-page headlines in a number of major newspapers.
The story as initially reported was that the pilot reported seeing a bright light 30 seconds before landing. At a press conference the head of the NTSB was asked by a reporter if it could have been a laser. The answer she initially gave was something to the effect that they had no evidence that it was.
From there, the news media ran with story, doing articles and video segments about lasers and airplanes.
Even though they weren't claiming that the plane was brought down by a laser, they were certainly dramatizing the possibility.
That was why I started this thread: to alert readers to the media frenzy.
The initial title of this thread was my attempt to illustrate the media's overdramatiztion. When people complained, I changed it.
Besides complaints about the title (which was only up for an hour or so) I am seeing some mean-spirited remarks. For example, I'm new here, so I'm only allowed to put in one link. Since I claimed that this story is all over the news, a single link would not have sufficed. Furthermore, common sense tells you that you don't need to provide a reference to something if it's common knowledge. Even though it may not have been common knowledge to people just waking up when I posted it, it was a top news story on Google News.
Some the hostility that should have been directed at the news media was instead directed at me. For example, the use of the word "alleged" as if there could be any doubt that this is what the media has been reporting. Also, arguments directed against the credibility of the idea that a laser was involved would be perfectly valid if the poster would not conflate it with criticism of my mentioning the story in the first place.
USA Today link:
Lasers a growing concern for aircraft pilots
(you have to scroll down to see the article)
