Police confiscated the kite on Saturday after flying near a plane landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport, after seeing witnesses come into contact with the landing plane.
United Airlines said it was “aware of the report” that Kite was on Flight 654 from Houston.
“The aircraft landed safely, the customers deplated normally, and inspections did not damage the aircraft,” United said.
A Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority police officer received reports of kite flying at Gravelly Point, just north of the airport runway on Saturday.
Gruvley Point is part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and is overseen by the National Park Service. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.
Kite flying is prohibited in the park due to low-flying aircraft in the area. McGee said officers “temporarily confiscated” Kite on Saturday.
“The kite was soon returned to its owner and no charges were filed,” McGee said.
It was not immediately clear how high the kite was flying or what kind of kite had been confiscated. The Federal Aviation Administration said on Sunday there were no reports on the kite.
Travel industry analyst Jamie Lalaunis said in an interview Sunday that he reported Kite to airport police after seeing him in contact with the plane on Saturday while walking to his home from Washington's Cherry Blossom Festival.
He sat at Grubbly Park for 10-15 minutes and stopped. He describes the park as “aeroplane spotters paradise,” where you may see people watching who have an air traffic control radio just before landing at the airport.
On Saturday, people were picnicking, cycling and flying around 10-15 kits, he said.
Most kits flew relatively low, he said, but at one point he discovered the greenery and flew through the “running child kit” more and more. He said it looked as if two adults and one child were in control of it.
The incoming plane was “at the right height to make contact with that kit,” he said, and he saw the kite reach the side of the plane between its fuselage and engine.
Kite came down and entangled with itself, he said.
He disputed Kite's explanation for being “temporarily confiscated” by police, saying it remained in the police car while his family was driving away from the park without it.
Lalaunis called airport police and reported what happened as he feared that Kite had caused damage to the plane he had not noticed.
He also said that American Airlines flights were particularly sensitive to aviation safety after a January crashed with an Army helicopter near the airport, killing 67 people on both aircraft. The FAA then closed the helicopter route involved in the crash.
Another episode happened on Friday at Reagan National Airport. At that time, four US Air Force jets approached a Delta Air Lines plane that had been taking off. The FAA is under investigation.
