The airline confirmed that a United Airlines plane made contact with a kite while trying to land at Reagan National Airport (DCA) on Saturday afternoon, according to a statement to Fox News Digital.
“We are aware of reports that a kite struck UA flight 654 from Houston to Regan Airport in Washington D.C.,” the statement read.
“The aircraft landed safely, customers deplaned normally and upon inspection there was no damage to the aircraft.”
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) also confirmed the incident to Fox News Digital and shared details of what transpired.
A general view of Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia on Thursday, January 30, 2025. An American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas collided with a Black Hawk helicopter while approaching the airport for landing last night. (Leigh Green for Fox News Digital)
Katz mentioned that during his 43-year career, he had never encountered a situation where a plane was hit by a kite. However, he acknowledged that interference with commercial flights from the ground is not uncommon, with incidents like people directing laser beams at planes being more frequent.
This latest incident comes a day after a Delta Air Lines plane nearly crashed midair with a T-38 Air Force jet near DCA.
Delta Air Lines Flight 2983, an Airbus A319 headed to Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) when four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talons were inbound to Arlington National Cemetery for a flyover on March 28, according to the FAA and U.S. Air Force.
The FAA said the Delta plane received an “onboard alert” that another aircraft was nearby, and air traffic controllers issued corrective instructions to both aircraft.
The NTSB said it was aware of “a loss of separation” between Delta flight 2983 and other aircraft, shortly after takeoff from DCA.
“We are currently collecting information, but have not yet launched an investigation,” an NTSB spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital.
Both incidents come months after the deadly Jan. 29 collision when an Army helicopter and an American Airlines plane collided near Reagan National Airport outside of Washington, D.C.
All 67 people were killed, which included 60 passengers and four crew members aboard the American Airlines flight and three soldiers aboard the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.
Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected]
