On Saturday, March 29, 2025, a United Airlines flight from Houston faced an unexpected challenge on its descent into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The plane allegedly hit a kite that was being flown above Gravelly Point Park, which is a popular spot bordering the airport, famous for its access to flight routes. No injury or damage was reported, and the plane landed uneventfully.
Flight 654, a Boeing 737, had 126 passengers and five crew on board when the incident occurred. From air traffic control communications, the pilots noticed the kite about 100 feet off the ground in front of them, directly in their path over Gravelly Point. They immediately reported the sighting, describing the possible threat posed by the kite’s height and position.
Witnesses at Gravelly Point Park saw the incident occur. Dylan Oakes, a WUSA9 producer and former flight attendant, remembered, “There was a kite that was a little higher than it should be. As the plane flew a little bit closer, it hit the kite.” Oakes pointed to the possible risk, saying the kite could have been sucked into the engine and caused engine failure at a pivotal point in the flight.
Upon the occurrence, officers of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department responded to the scene and took away the kite. They gave warnings to people regarding the ban on kite flying in the region because of the dangers it presents to low-flying aircraft. The kite was returned to its owner, and no charges were made.
The incident occurred just days after another airplane incident at Reagan National Airport. On Friday, March 28, a Delta Air Lines flight almost collided with U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon fighter planes as they were taking off. An alert sounded in the cockpit of the Delta flight, as the airplane was close to the military planes nearby.
Safety officials quickly became involved, and air traffic controllers provided corrective instructions to both airplanes until they were safe distance apart. The unfortunate crashes have brought up the topic of aviation safety in the Washington, D.C., region. This follows a horrific midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter era which killed 67 people. This crash opened up a discussion of systemic issues in aviation safety and air traffic control.
It seems likely that a safety investigation will be conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. The ability to have strict enforcement of regulations, e.g., banning kite flying around airports, is necessary to preserve the safety of not only people aboard the aircraft but also people on the ground as well.
