Narrative:

We were heading east towards teb VOR on a base for ewr 22L. New york city was at our 12 o'clock position. A powerful green laser came from a roof top center of the island of manhattan (looking at island left to right) and about 10-15 blocks north of the empire state building directly off the nose of the airplane. It came straight into the cockpit slightly from the right side. It went across the first officer's eyes and hit the captains left eye. We notified ATC and they turned us south toward newark and cleared us for the approach. After landing ATC gave us a number to call for TRACON and we gave them the information they requested. ATC requested we call the [authorities] to give a report as well and we did. We also contacted dispatch. The first officer eyes were burning and the captain had a spot in the left eye for about 3 hours. We were given the option to continue; go to hotel; or go to the hospital. The crew discussed it and decided they should go to hotel since they were still having symptoms at the time and if the symptoms were still present in the morning they would go to the hospital. The flight was re-crewed and the crew left for the hotel. We called scheduling to get our hotel information and they told us that it was no longer optional to go to hospital and we were ordered to go. We complied and were treated at the hospital. We returned to hotel at 6am and we called scheduling to tell them and end our duty.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Captain on approach to EWR reported being illuminated by a powerful green laser from a Manhattan rooftop that caused a spot in the Captain's eye and burning in the First Officer's eyes. Company policy required them to go to the hospital.

Narrative: We were heading east towards TEB VOR on a base for EWR 22L. New York City was at our 12 o'clock position. A powerful green laser came from a roof top center of the island of Manhattan (looking at island left to right) and about 10-15 blocks north of the Empire State Building directly off the nose of the airplane. It came straight into the cockpit slightly from the right side. It went across the FO's eyes and hit the captains left eye. We notified ATC and they turned us south toward Newark and cleared us for the approach. After landing ATC gave us a number to call for TRACON and we gave them the information they requested. ATC requested we call the [authorities] to give a report as well and we did. We also contacted dispatch. The FO eyes were burning and the captain had a spot in the left eye for about 3 hours. We were given the option to continue; go to hotel; or go to the hospital. The crew discussed it and decided they should go to hotel since they were still having symptoms at the time and if the symptoms were still present in the morning they would go to the hospital. The flight was re-crewed and the crew left for the hotel. We called scheduling to get our hotel information and they told us that it was no longer optional to go to hospital and we were ordered to go. We complied and were treated at the hospital. We returned to hotel at 6am and we called scheduling to tell them and end our duty.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.