A United Airlines
Boeing 737 aircraft was reportedly hit by a kite upon landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). The aircraft landed without further incident, and no injuries were reported.
The incident details
On March 29, 2025, the airline’s Boeing 737-700 aircraft, registered as N24736, operated flight UA 654 from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), when the aircraft reportedly hit a kite upon landing.
Photo: Minh K Tran | Shutterstock
The Chicago-based airline confirmed to NBC News that it was aware of reports that a kite struck United Airlines Flight UA 654, and assured that the flight from Houston landed safely. It added that passengers deplaned as usual, and after inspection, no damage was found on the aircraft.
According to the report, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police Department, responsible for patrolling both Reagan National and Dulles International Airports, stated that a kite was “temporarily confiscated” from an individual in Gravelly Point for flying in restricted airspace.
The report also stated that over ten kites were flying in the park just north of Reagan National’s main runway as planes approached for landing.
Kites and airports
According to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 101, governs the operation of moored balloons, kites, amateur rockets, and unmanned free balloons.
Under this regulation, kites cannot be flown within five miles of an airport without prior approval from the airport operator and Air Traffic Control (ATC). If a kite poses a risk to aviation safety, the FAA
or airport authorities may take enforcement action, such as confiscating it or issuing a fine.
Photo: Douglas Litchfield | Shutterstock
Such incidents, though rare, do occur. One example happened in 2022 when a SpiceJet flight in India was momentarily distracted just before landing in Kolkata after a kite struck the aircraft’s windshield.
According to a report by The Times of India, the airline’s Dash 8-Q400 turboprop was rapidly descending toward Kolkata Airport (CCU) when the pilots spotted kites in the air. As the captain alerted the air traffic control about the situation, a kite struck the windshield, temporarily distracting the pilots.
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Kite Strikes Windshield Of A SpiceJet Turboprop During Landing
The incident took place in the Indian city of Kolkata.
Other incidents
United Airlines encountered several incidents over the past week. On March 24, 2025, a United Airlines Airbus A319, registered as N837UA, operating flight UA2166 from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), was forced to divert to Boise Airport (BOI).
In response to the diversion, United Airlines sent another A319, registered as N808UA, from Hayden Yampa Valley Airport (HDN) to Boise.
Photo: Vicenzo Pace | Simple Flying
Air traffic control (ATC) audio records from LiveATC indicated that the United Airlines aircraft had experienced an engine failure as it was flying from San Francisco to Bozeman. The situation was further complicated by the fact that another aircraft, an Alaska Airlines Embraer E175, registered as N653QX, also experienced problems as it landed in Boise.
Flight AS2112, which is a regularly scheduled itinerary between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Boise, operated by Horizon Air, Alaska Air Group’s regional subsidiary, landed at the airport and disabled the runway temporarily. According to ATC records, the E175 incident disabled runway 28R/10L, one of the two runways at the airport, with the Horizon Air regional jet landing in Boise. As such, the United Airlines A319 was directed to land on runway 28L/10R.

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Air traffic control audio indicated that the United Airlines Airbus A319 experienced an engine failure, prompting the diversion to Boise, Idaho.