Kite reportedly makes contact with United flight near Reagan National Airport, airline says
ARLINGTON, Va. () — A kite reportedly made contact with a United Airlines flight Saturday as the plane was approaching Reagan National Airport (DCA), the airline said.
In a statement to DC News Now, United Airlines said it is aware of reports that a kite struck United Flight 654, which departed from Houston for DCA.
FAA reports near-miss at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport involving Delta plane, Air Force Talon
However, the airline added that 'the aircraft landed safely, customers deplaned normally and upon inspection there was no damage to the aircraft.'
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), Reagan National (DCA) and Dulles International airports, said that its officers had responded to reports of kite-flying that day at Gravelly Point.
, a park across the Potomac River in Alexandria is just a few hundred feet away from the north end of DCA's runway. People are not allowed to fly kites there because of 'the danger of low-flying aircraft,' according to the MWAA.
Upon responding to the park, the airport authority said officers briefly confiscated a kite flying in the restricted airspace.
'That kite was returned to its owner shortly later and no charges were filed,' said Emily McGee, a spokesperson for the MWAA.
Officers also warned people about flying kites in the area.
American Airlines plane, military helicopter collide near DCA, crash into Potomac River
Across the Potomac on the National Mall, National Cherry Blossom Festival organizers held the annual Blossom Kite Festival on Saturday to celebrate cherry blossom season. According to organizers, the kite festival was unrelated to the kite-flying activity at Gravelly Point.
The reported incident comes just two months after an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter near DCA, killing
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