A kite hit a United Airlines flight near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on a warm Saturday afternoon. The kite was flying in restricted airspace at Gravelly Point, where kite-flying is prohibited due to low-flying aircraft. The flight from Houston landed safely with no damage to the aircraft. Witnesses stated that the kite hit the plane between the engine and fuselage before crashing. The incident sparked an investigation by airport police, who confiscated the kite but later returned it to its owner without pressing charges. Federal regulations prohibit kite flying near airports and above 500 feet without appropriate permissions. The incident comes in the aftermath of several aviation crashes and near-misses this year, including a collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter near Reagan National earlier in January. The incident at Gravelly Point was not related to the Blossom Kite Festival happening at the National Mall across the Potomac River. Despite the safety risks, kite flying continues to be a popular activity, and it is important for participants to follow federal regulations and exercise caution when flying kites near airports.
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