Air 1 VIDEO of a Laser Strike: Spokane County Sheriff’s Office YouTube Channel or Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page.
DON’T Shine/Point a Laser at ANY Aircraft or Helicopter!
It is Extremely Dangerous and You WILL be Arrested, Charged with a Felony
Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Regional Air Support Unit (ASU) Air 1 Flight Crew, while on a regularly scheduled flight, reported being struck by a green laser. They pinpointed the origin of the laser and observed a male outside a home on N. Lidgerwood Street. They guided Deputies on the ground to the location, and through their investigation, the Deputies identified a suspect and recovered a green laser. The suspect was transported and booked into jail, charged with a felony.
NOTE: Pointing a laser at any aircraft is extremely dangerous!! At a minimum, it can distract pilots/crews, momentarily blind them, and potentially cause permanent injury depending on its strength. Pointing a laser at ANY aircraft is a CRIME and can be life-threatening, risking the safety of the aircraft, its crew, and the public on the ground.
On August 1, 2025, at approximately 10:15 pm, Air 1 and its Flight Crew were up and flying on a scheduled patrol flight. While in the vicinity of N. Nevada Street and E. Lincoln Road, searching for a reported reckless driver, they were suddenly hit with a powerful and intense green laser that illuminated the cockpit of the helicopter.
Using their onboard camera system, they quickly located the origin of the laser and determined it came from a residence in the 7400 block of N. Lidgerwood Street. They notified Spokane Regional Emergency Communications (SREC) via radio and asked for Deputies to respond.
Deputies arrived at the residence and contacted the suspect, later identified as 68-year-old Ernest W. Donlan. Donlan initially denied targeting Air 1 with a laser. He admitted to being outside and owning a laser pointer, but he did not have it with him at the time. He then asked if the Deputies wanted to see it, and they told him yes.
Donlan voluntarily went inside and brought the laser out to the Deputies. When they turned it on, they observed an intense and focused green light. The Air 1 Flight Crew confirmed that the laser that struck their aircraft was very bright and green.
Donlan eventually admitted to pointing the laser at the ASU Helicopter/Crew, and Donlan was arrested for violating Washington State Law, RCW 9A.49.020 Unlawful Discharge of a Laser 1st Degree, a felony.
He was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail on this felony charge.
The following day, Spokane County Superior Court Judge J. Schmidt set Donlan’s bond at $20,000. Donlan posted bond on August 3, 2025, and was released from jail.
Thankfully, no one was injured during this incident, but pointing a laser at any aircraft is extremely dangerous!!
At a minimum, lasers can distract pilots/crews, momentarily blind them, and potentially cause permanent injury depending on their strength. Pointing a laser at ANY aircraft is a CRIME and can be life-threatening, risking the safety of the aircraft, its crew, and the public on the ground.
SRASU Flight Crew
Pilot: Rob Jones
TFO: J. Karnitz, Sergeant, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
TFO: L. Acosta, Sergeant, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office
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Laser Incidents from the FAA Webpage: https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/lasers/laws)
** Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime.
** Report laser incidents
The FAA remains vigilant in its campaign to heighten public awareness of the serious safety risk posed by lasers pointed at aircraft. However, laser strikes continue to stay at high levels with pilots reporting 12,840 laser strikes to the FAA in 2024.
Laser strikes on aircraft remain a serious threat to aviation safety. Intentionally aiming lasers at aircraft poses a safety threat to pilots and violates federal law. Many high-powered lasers can incapacitate pilots flying aircraft that may be carrying hundreds of passengers.
The FAA works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to pursue civil and criminal penalties against people who purposely aim a laser at an aircraft. The agency takes enforcement action against people who violate Federal Aviation Regulations by shining lasers at aircraft and can impose civil penalties of up to $11,000 per violation. The FAA has imposed civil penalties up to $30,800 against people for multiple laser incidents.
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "DON’T Shine/Point a Laser at ANY Aircraft or Helicopter!" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7