Threats Force Air Ambulances to Reroute, Delaying Medical Service

A social-media call for people to point laser beams at aircraft flying over Portland’s ICE facility led authorities to treat the post as a credible threat and adjust emergency operations.

Officials say the “laser event”, planned for the evening of October 11, could have endangered aircrew, forced medical-flight diversions, and disrupted routine policing of the area.

The post invited participants to gather at multiple city locations at 9 pm and shine handheld lasers at helicopters and other aircraft, or in their words, “spy planes.” Federal and local law enforcement agencies quickly flagged the activity. The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Portland Police Bureau warned the public that aiming lasers at aircraft is both dangerous and a very real federal crime. A directed laser can temporarily distract or even blind pilots during critical phases of flight, including takeoff, landing, or low-altitude operations, which greatly increases the risk of an accident.

Public-safety agencies joined the response, with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) announcing that it would not accept air-ambulance landings at its rooftop pad during the planned event. Instead, medevac flights were rerouted to alternate airports and patients were transported to OHSU by ground ambulance, adding nearly an hour to travel times.

"For most patients that will be an acceptable delay. However, for some sensitive situations such as unstable trauma patients, STEMIs, and strokes, the delay could have real impacts,” the university said. “OHSU Mission Control has alerted staff to incorporate additional transit time into their decision-making as OHSU accepts patients through the transfer center.”

Local law enforcement and port police increased patrols and monitoring near the port and the ICE facility. Officials urged the public to report anyone observed aiming lasers at aircraft and reminded residents that video or location details can help investigators.

Organizers of the online call framed the action as a mere protest, though several demonstrators interviewed locally said they opposed targeting aircraft and urged nonviolent methods. Civil rights and protest groups generally caution against stunts that risk public safety and could lead to felony charges.

This comes just a few weeks after four illegal aliens were arrested in Portland for attempting to blind a US Customs and Border Protection helicopter pilot using lasers. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said that “these four illegal aliens endangered the lives of our CBP personnel, the safety of every other aircraft in flight during the time AND put everyone on the ground in immediate danger. DHS law enforcement is facing a 1,000% increase in attacks against them.”

FMI: www.dhs.gov