Serious safety worries have surfaced in response to a proposal to shine laser beams into the sky to disrupt federal helicopters over South Portland, and a major trauma center was compelled to divert air ambulances.
The online advertisement, which appeared on the homepage of Rose City Counter-Info, a self-described “anarchist counter-info platform in so-called Portland, Oregon,” urges people to participate in a “laser tag” event targeting federal planes.
The article urges people to wear masks, work together, and take measures to avoid being identified, such as cleaning laser pointers with alcohol, wearing gloves, and removing any potential DNA traces before disposal.
According to KGW, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) reported that multiple air ambulance providers refused to land on the hospital’s rooftop helipad on Saturday night as a result of the planned activity.
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Instead, they diverted their helicopters to nearby airports, requiring patients to be transported to OHSU via ground ambulance, which is estimated to add 45 to 60 minutes to travel time.
“For the majority of patients, this will be an acceptable delay. However, for some delicate situations, such as unstable trauma patients, STEMIs, and strokes, the delay could have substantial implications,” OHSU stated in an email to KGW.
The hospital also advised staff to “factor in additional transit time when making decisions” and strongly urged the public not to participate in the laser event, calling it “extremely dangerous.”
OHSU later clarified that the air ambulance vendors, not the hospital, made the decision to divert flights.
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The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) emphasized in a statement to Fox News Digital that aiming lasers at aircraft endangers pilots and people on the ground and is prohibited by state and federal law.
The bureau added that it “regularly” arrests people for targeting police aircraft with lasers, including one arrest earlier this week. While police confirmed they were monitoring the ICE building on Saturday, they stated the presence was not higher than usual. Police also reported no laser strikes that night.
The Port of Portland, which oversees general aviation in the area, acknowledged the increase in helicopter and propeller aircraft activity.
“We are aware of the increased volume of helicopter and propeller airplane activity over South and Southwest Portland,” the Port stated. “This appears to be related to federal law enforcement and/or military activity, and the Port of Portland has no control over this development.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has also denounced the call to target aircraft with lasers, warning that it is a federal crime.
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“Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a federal crime. This is extremely dangerous for the aircraft personnel and the public’s safety,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated in a previous statement to Fox News Digital. “Antifa domestic terrorists WILL NOT overrun our cities. We will dismantle their networks and bring every one of them to justice.”
Federal authorities cited a recent event to demonstrate the risks of such actions. On September 30, DHS reported that four Mexican nationals living in the U.S. illegally were arrested in Portland after allegedly shining a laser at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter, endangering the crew and those below.
Portland has been a focal point for demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement, with protests near the ICE facility ongoing for weeks. In some cases, demonstrators have displayed provocative props such as a guillotine to symbolize opposition to federal actions.
Earlier this week, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem visited the ICE facility in Portland, where she prayed with officers dealing with the ongoing unrest.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, on the other hand, disputed claims of widespread chaos. “There is no insurrection,” Kotek said, expressing confidence that “local law enforcement will meet the moment.” She added that during her meeting with Noem, she reiterated Oregon’s expectation that DHS and ICE operations comply with state law.
Kotek joins a number of other Democratic governors who have opposed the Trump administration’s expanded federal enforcement efforts.
Fox News Digital has contacted OHSU for comment.
Rachel Wolf of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
