United Flight Reports Possible Kite Strike During Landing at Reagan National Airport
Aviation Security Correspondent | March 30, 2025 | Updated 7:15 PM EDT
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A routine United Airlines flight from Houston became the center of an aviation safety investigation Saturday after pilots reported a possible kite strike during final approach to Reagan National Airport (DCA), marking the latest in a series of alarming incidents near the busy capital-area airport.
The Incident Timeline
• 3:42 PM: UA Flight 654 begins descent into DCA from 8,000 feet
• 4:11 PM: Pilots report “possible foreign object contact” to tower
• 4:13 PM: Aircraft lands safely on Runway 19
• 4:20 PM: MWAA police detain kite flyers at Gravelly Point
Gravelly Point: A Known Hazard Zone
The popular riverside park sits just:
✓ 400 feet from DCA’s northern runway threshold
✓ Directly beneath the Potomac River visual approach
✓ In clear violation of FAA Part 91.15 restrictions
“Flying kites here is like playing Russian roulette with aviation safety,” said Captain Robert Katz, a 43-year commercial pilot who’s flown into DCA over 1,200 times. “At 150 knots approach speed, even a small kite string could jam flight controls or get sucked into an engine.”
Conflicting Reports Emerge
While United confirmed the incident, authorities remain divided:
→ MWAA: Acknowledged kite confiscation but couldn’t confirm strike
→ FAA: Claims no official incident report filed
→ NTSB: Monitoring but hasn’t opened investigation
Dangerous Pattern Developing
This scare comes just 48 hours after:
• March 28 near-miss between Delta A319 and Air Force T-38s
• January 30 collision between AA flight and Black Hawk helicopter
• 2024 laser strike incidents up 37% at DCA
Aviation Experts Sound Alarm
“These aren’t accidents—they’re preventable system failures,” declared former NTSB member John Goglia. He points to:
✔️ Inadequate signage at Gravelly Point
✔️ Lax enforcement of airspace violations
✔️ No geofencing technology to detect drones/kites
What’s Next
MWAA tells Fox News they’re considering:
Installing radar-detection systems along the Potomac
Increasing police patrols with $25,000 fines for violators
Public awareness campaign about airport hazards
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