Another Close Call at D.C. Airport as Plane Hits Kite While Landing

A peaceful spring afternoon nearly turned disastrous on Saturday when a kite struck a United Airlines jet as it approached Reagan National Airport—just one day after a separate near-collision involving a Delta flight and a military aircraft.

Flight UA654, arriving from Houston, was preparing to land when the kite made contact with the plane. United confirmed that no injuries occurred. “The aircraft landed safely, customers deplaned normally and upon inspection there was no damage to the aircraft,” the airline said in a statement.

The incident unfolded near Gravelly Point Park, a popular green space just north of the airport. Despite its scenic views, the park sits directly beneath a major flight path, and kite-flying is explicitly prohibited there for safety reasons.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) said its officers responded swiftly after receiving reports of kites in the air. “Officers warned some individuals about flying kites and briefly confiscated a kite. That kite was returned to its owner shortly later and no charges were filed,” the agency said.

But some onlookers say the situation could’ve been far worse.

“I watched one of the kites go higher and higher until it just disappeared above the tree line,” said Amanda Lewis, a D.C. resident who witnessed the incident. “The next thing we knew, a plane was overhead, and someone shouted, ‘It hit it!’”

Another witness, Javier Morales, said he counted more than a dozen kites in the air at once. “It looked like a festival. I don’t think people realized how dangerous it was,” he said.

Aviation safety experts say the incident highlights growing concerns about airspace interference—especially in areas close to major airports. “This isn’t just a fluke,” said retired FAA investigator Mark DeSantis. “We’re seeing a rise in these near-misses, and it’s only a matter of time before something catastrophic happens if regulations aren’t enforced.”

The scare came just 24 hours after a Delta commercial flight narrowly avoided a collision with an Air Force jet over Washington. According to preliminary reports, the military aircraft’s flight path triggered onboard alarms in the Delta cockpit, prompting evasive maneuvers.

And in January, a far more tragic event shook the region when two regional jets collided on the runway near Reagan Airport, killing 67 passengers and crew. Investigators cited poor communication and traffic congestion as contributing factors.

Since then, concerns about air safety over the nation’s capital have intensified. Advocates are now calling for stricter enforcement of no-fly zones for recreational objects like drones and kites, especially near critical flight paths.

“It’s not about ruining people’s fun,” said Councilmember Denise Rollins of Arlington County. “It’s about protecting lives—on the ground and in the air.”

For now, Gravelly Point Park remains open, but local authorities say patrols will increase and signage will be updated to better inform visitors of the risks.

“This is a wake-up call,” DeSantis warned. “And next time, we might not be so lucky.”