On the night of October 11, 2025, Portland, Oregon, found itself at the center of a storm of controversy and concern after an online flyer called for a so-called "laser party"—an event encouraging people to shine laser pointers at federal helicopters flying over South Portland. The call to action, which circulated widely on social media and was posted on the homepage of Rose City Counter-Info, an anarchist platform, triggered a swift and serious response from local authorities, hospitals, and federal agencies.
The flyer, brazen in its instructions, urged participants to "mask up" and coordinate with others to disrupt federal aircraft. It went so far as to offer advice on how to avoid identification, telling would-be participants to wear gloves, clean laser pointers with alcohol, and dispose of them carefully to remove any DNA traces. According to Fox News, the post explicitly encouraged individuals to target federal helicopters, with the stated goal of grounding them through coordinated laser strikes.
The potential consequences of such an event were not lost on Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), the region’s leading trauma hospital. Citing the threat posed by the planned laser activity, OHSU announced that, as a precaution, air ambulances would not land at their rooftop helipad on the night of October 11. Instead, emergency helicopters were redirected to other area airports, forcing patients to be transferred by ground ambulance—a process estimated to add 45 to 60 minutes to the critical journey for those in need of urgent care.
"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," an OHSU spokesperson said in an email to KGW, as reported by Fox News Digital. The hospital’s Mission Control team alerted staff to incorporate the additional transit time into their decision-making as they accepted patients through the transfer center. OHSU also strongly urged the public not to participate in the laser event, calling it "extremely dangerous."
For those unfamiliar, shining a laser at an aircraft is far from a harmless prank. The FBI has repeatedly warned that even a small laser pointer can temporarily blind pilots, creating the risk of a midair collision or other catastrophic incident. "When laser beams are aimed at any piloted aircraft, whether military or commercial, what might seem like a tiny beam on the ground can blind aircrew, potentially causing a midair collision or other incident," the FBI states on its website. The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) echoed these concerns, noting that they regularly arrest individuals for targeting police aircraft with lasers. In fact, police said they had arrested someone for such an act just a couple of days prior to the planned "laser party."
Law enforcement agencies were on high alert. The Port of Portland, which oversees general aviation in the region, acknowledged the increased helicopter and propeller aircraft activity over South and Southwest Portland. "This appears to be related to federal law enforcement and/or military activity and is not a development the Port of Portland can control," a spokesperson told KATU. The Port emphasized that safety is their top priority and reminded the public that pointing lasers at aircraft is a felony offense under Oregon law. "If we get calls about any laser activity, Port Police officers will investigate," the spokesperson added.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responded in no uncertain terms. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the event, stating, "Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is a federal crime. This is incredibly dangerous for the aircraft personnel and for the public’s safety. Antifa domestic terrorists WILL NOT overrun our cities. We will bust their networks and bring every one of them to justice." Her remarks, reported by both KATU and Fox News Digital, underscored the seriousness with which federal authorities viewed the threat.
Meanwhile, the online flyer remained prominently displayed on Rose City Counter-Info’s website, continuing to encourage participants to take part in the "laser tag" event. According to The Post Millennial’s Andy Ngo, who has reported extensively on Antifa activity in Portland, the plan involved deploying lasers at multiple locations across the city to ground "spy planes" and serve as a distraction for other militant actions.
The heightened tensions in Portland are not new. The city has been the site of ongoing protests and unrest in response to federal immigration enforcement, with the Trump administration sending federal agents to bolster security around facilities such as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building. Just days before the "laser party," DHS Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Portland ICE facility, where she prayed with officers facing the unrest. According to Fox News, federal law enforcement agents have maintained a visible presence, forming lines outside the facility to block protesters from entering.
Not all local officials agreed with the federal characterization of the events. Oregon Governor Tina Kotek pushed back against claims of insurrection or widespread disorder. "There is no insurrection," Kotek insisted in comments reported by Fox News Digital. She expressed confidence that local law enforcement would "meet the moment" and reiterated her expectation that DHS and ICE operations comply with Oregon law. During a recent meeting with Secretary Noem, Kotek emphasized the importance of respecting state laws during federal operations. She joins several other Democratic governors who have resisted the Trump administration’s expanded federal enforcement efforts, arguing for local autonomy and oversight.
The issue of laser strikes on aircraft has not been confined to this single incident. On September 30, 2025, DHS announced the arrest of four Mexican men living illegally in the U.S. after they pointed a laser at a Customs and Border Protection helicopter in Portland, endangering the pilot and crew. According to a DHS press release, the suspects were taken into custody after federal agents traced the beam to a Portland residence. The men, identified as Diogenes Albores-Suchiapa, Andres Brian Lopez-Labra, Benito Zamora-Alvarez, and Hector Miranda Mendoza, faced a range of previous charges, including drug possession, trespassing, unlawful entry, and DUI.
Despite the chaotic scenes and ongoing unrest, the night of the planned "laser party" ended without reported laser strikes, according to the Portland Police Bureau. Police maintained a presence around the ICE facility, but said it was not greater than usual. Nevertheless, the potential for harm and the disruption to critical emergency services left a lasting impression on the city.
As Portland grapples with the fallout from these events, the message from authorities is clear: pointing lasers at aircraft is not just a protest tactic—it is a dangerous crime with the potential to endanger lives both in the air and on the ground. The episode serves as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences that can arise when activism crosses the line into actions that threaten public safety.
