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Pilot Flags Blinding White House Octagon Lights Hazard

6/13/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Pilot reported bright lights from the UFC “Claw” octagon on the White House South Lawn flooded his cockpit during a nighttime approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and logged the incident with the FAA and NASA.
He said the lighting was ten times more blinding than any laser he had ever seen, a serious hazard.
FAA told him to raise concerns with the White House instead of pursuing regulatory action.

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Story summary

Pilot reported bright lights from the UFC “Claw” octagon on the White House South Lawn flooded his cockpit during a nighttime approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and logged the incident with the FAA and NASA.
He said the lighting was ten times more blinding than any laser he had ever seen, a serious hazard.
FAA told him to raise concerns with the White House instead of pursuing regulatory action.