Overview

• United Airlines Flight 654 from Houston landed safely at Reagan National Airport on March 29 after reportedly making contact with a kite near Gravelly Point.
• The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police confiscated the kite, warned individuals about restricted airspace regulations, and later returned the kite without filing charges.
• Witnesses reported seeing the kite hit the plane between the engine and fuselage, though the FAA stated it was not aware of the incident.
• Kite-flying is prohibited at Gravelly Point due to the risks posed to low-flying aircraft, as reiterated by the MWAA following the event.
• The incident has reignited broader concerns about aviation safety at Reagan National Airport, following recent near-misses and a fatal collision earlier this year.