Bronx Man Charged in Laser Strike on Chopper 2

Reinel Ocasio, 48, faces federal-style charges after a green laser was allegedly aimed into a CBS News New York helicopter's cockpit.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Flat-color editorial illustration of a dark helicopter silhouette crossing a pale sky, with a thin green beam rising from distant buildings. — Reinel Ocasio, 48, was charged after police say he aimed a green laser from a Bronx apartment building into the cockpit of CBS News New York's Chopper 2 on Wednesday. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Reinel Ocasio, 48, was arrested after police say a green laser was pointed from an apartment building on Undercliff Avenue in Highbridge into the cockpit of CBS News New York's Chopper 2 just before 6 p.m. Wednesday. He is charged with two counts of reckless endangerment and two counts of directing a laser into an aircraft.

Why it matters

Laser strikes on aircraft pose risks to pilots' vision and flight safety, and the incident comes as New York continues to log these reports. Police responded after the incident was reported to them, underscoring how such cases move from the air to the ground.

Ocasio faces two counts of reckless endangerment and two counts of directing a laser into an aircraft, with his case now moving forward after his arrest in Highbridge. The extraction does not report bail, a court date, or any plea, and it is unclear whether additional charges will follow.

The players

Reinel Ocasio

The 48-year-old Bronx man charged in connection with the laser incident, whose case remains at the early charging stage.

CBS News New York

The local CBS-owned news station whose Chopper 2 helicopter was targeted, and which operates the aircraft for news coverage across the New York region.

The details

Police say the green laser was aimed at the Chopper 2 cockpit while the helicopter, flown by Dan Rice, was in the air. Officers went to the Undercliff Avenue building, which is where the laser was allegedly coming from, and took Ocasio into custody after the incident was reported.

Wednesday, just before 6 p.m.: Laser allegedly pointed into the Chopper 2 cockpit.
Wednesday evening: Police respond to the Undercliff Avenue building and arrest Ocasio.

Legal Context

Nationally, the FAA has recorded 5,997 laser strike reports this year, down 23% from the same period last year, though the 13,304 reports logged in 2023 set a record. Federal law allows penalties of up to 5 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 for aiming lasers at aircraft, a framework this local arrest now tests in New York.

Residents near Undercliff Avenue in Highbridge and anyone flying over the area may see heightened police attention to laser incidents. Pilots and passengers benefit when such reports are followed up quickly, reducing the risk of eye injury during flight.

The takeaway

Laser pointing at aircraft is a federal offense with serious penalties, and reporting suspicious beams to police quickly helps protect flight crews. Residents should know that even a brief beam can endanger a pilot.