Emergency flights were recently diverted from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon, due to a reported threat targeting federal aircraft. The incident was triggered by an online flyer posted on the homepage of Rose City Counter-Info, a self-described anarchist counter-info platform. The flyer, which encouraged participants to engage in a ‘laser tag’ event aimed at disrupting federal helicopters flying over South Portland, raised significant safety concerns and led to a reallocation of air ambulance services.
The online flyer detailed a plan for participants to mask up, coordinate with others, and take precautions to avoid identification. It instructed individuals to clean laser pointers with alcohol, wear gloves, and remove potential DNA traces before disposal. These steps reflected the seriousness of the planned activity and the intent to conceal the participants’ identities. The act of targeting federal aircraft with laser pointers has been explicitly condemned by law enforcement, with the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) emphasizing the grave dangers it poses to both pilots and the public.
As a result of the potential safety risks, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) reportedly experienced a significant number of air ambulance providers avoiding the hospital’s rooftop helipad. Instead of landing at the OHSU helipad, these providers opted to redirect their helicopters to nearby airports. This decision required patients to be transported by ground ambulance, which could add anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes to their travel time, raising concerns about the impact on critical care for certain patients.
Although OHSU noted that most patients would accept the delay, they expressed concern that for some sensitive situations, such as unstable trauma cases, STEMIs (ST-elevation myocardial infarctions), and strokes, the delay could have significant consequences. The hospital urged staff to consider additional transit time in their decision-making processes and strongly cautioned the public against participating in the planned laser event, describing it as ‘extremely dangerous.’
The hospital later clarified that the decision to divert flights was made independently by the air ambulance vendors, not the hospital itself. This situation highlights the potential risks posed by such actions to both emergency response capabilities and public safety. The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) has confirmed that targeting police aircraft with lasers is a prohibited act under state and federal law, and they have previously arrested individuals for similar conduct, including a recent arrest earlier this week.
In response to the reported threats, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has condemned the activity, warning that it is a federal crime and poses a serious risk to both the aircraft personnel and the public. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin of DHS has stated that such actions are ‘incredibly dangerous’ and that ‘Antifa domestic terrorists will not overrun our cities.’ Federal officials have also pointed to recent incidents as evidence of the potential consequences, including the arrest of four Mexican nationals in Portland for allegedly shining a laser at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) helicopter, which endangered both the crew and people below.
Portland has remained a focal point for demonstrations against federal immigration enforcement, with protests near the ICE facility continuing for several weeks. In some instances, demonstrators have used provocative props such as a guillotine to symbolize their opposition to federal actions. Meanwhile, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem recently visited the ICE facility in Portland, where she prayed with officers dealing with the ongoing unrest, underscoring the high level of tensions associated with the situation.
Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, however, has disputed the assertion of widespread disorder, asserting that ‘there is no insurrection,’ and expressing confidence that ‘local law enforcement will meet the moment.’ She reiterated that Oregon expects DHS and ICE operations to comply with state law during her meeting with Noem. Kotek aligns with several other Democratic governors who have been vocal in their opposition to the Trump administration’s expanded federal enforcement efforts, highlighting the political dimensions of the ongoing situation.