Kite Hits United Jet Near Reagan National—Blogger Calls Police, Felony Charges Possible [Roundup]

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Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. With everything that’s happened at DCA recently, I don’t blame the authorities for coming down hard on the kite flyer. They either know better or should have known better. Even if it’s a kid, then their parent or guardian should be charged for negligence. C’mon.

  2. That felony charge is completely frivolous. But it’s a good time for a defense attorney to shine.

    I love attorneys.

  3. @Dick — Without fail, you act your namesake, yet again. This potential case is not ‘frivolous’ at all. There is a reasonable basis both in fact and law for not flying kites near airport runways (you know, because of the safety of the passengers, etc.). The purpose of a case like this, if there is to be one, would be to deter such misbehavior (so that others do not do this either). So, if they do decide to prosecute, it would not be to ‘harass, delay, or embarrass’ the perpetrator, unless they are literally a child, then the part or guardian should be deterred from such negligence. You know better, sir.

  4. Flying a kite that close to DCA is really stupid. If the kite flyer loses control and that kite gets sucked into an engine it could be a disaster. Now a felony? That might be pushing. If stupidity were punishable by a felony charges we couldn’t build jails fast enough.

  5. I don’t see the kite strike but a kite near an airport could be trouble. Are kites banned at the park and if not, why?

    “What’s grosser than gross?” How about wearing shorts on a flight so your skin is in direct contact with all of that bacteria on the seat.

  6. @George N Romey — Oh, come now, if it’s for-profit prisons, like the ones ‘your team’ are building and filling with detainees (without due process, of course), you’re already cheering for that as it is. So, why the change of heart? Perhaps, you’re such a contrarian that you saw I wanted a prosecution for this kite guy, then you had to pick the opposite position, eh? If so, I’m flattered. If not, well then, try to be more consistent. Bah!

  7. I’m confused on how a kite hit a flying plane and there was still kite left to be confiscated.

    What am I missing?

    Was the plane damaged? Seems like sensitive parts of the plane could be damaged if hit at the wrong angle.

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