Police say a Delta Airlines flight arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport from Las Vegas was hit with a green laser as it was flying over Long Island early this morning. 

Officials say the incident occurred about 4 miles northwest of Republic Airport in Farmingdale. 

Jim Record, a retired Northwest Airlines captain, says some lasers can reach up to 5,000 feet and can cause retina eye damage to pilots. 

Aviation expert Pete Acquaro says the use of a laser "causes complete blindness" in the cockpit. 

The FAA says pointing a laser beam at an aircraft is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. It says laser incidents happened nearly 4,000 times last year across the country.

Nassau police and the FAA are investigating the incident.