Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport has once again been thrown into the limelight following a notable incident. A United Airlines Boeing 737 collided with a kite while landing at the airport.
The Boeing 737-700, identified by registration N24736, was arriving on runway 19 after a flight originating from Houston Airport. Situated immediately before the runway is Gravelly Point park, where a family was engaged in kite flying at the time. An eyewitness reported that the kite struck one of the aircraft’s wings. It hit the plane specifically between the fuselage and an engine. Law enforcement was promptly notified of the collision.
Authorities arrived on the scene within minutes and took possession of the kite. United Airlines issued a statement confirming that the aircraft underwent post-landing inspection and sustained no damage. It remains uncertain whether the family involved will face any repercussions.
Multiple witnesses have indicated that kite flying is a frequent activity in the park. On occasion, people have observed as many as ten kites in the air simultaneously. Despite regulations prohibiting such recreational activities near airport grounds, awareness of this rule appears to be lacking among some individuals. Notably, a hotel located in Washington D.C. mistakenly promotes the park as a ‘tested and approved place’ for kite flying.
A string of events
This kite incident is the latest in a string of events at the airport raising questions about air safety. Earlier in the same week, a near mid-air collision occurred between a Delta Airbus A319 and a U.S. Air Force T-38 training jet. Furthermore, an air traffic controller was recently placed on administrative leave following a physical altercation with a colleague in the control tower, which resulted in blood being splattered on control equipment. According to insiders, the issues within the tower are linked to the fatal incident that occurred in January.