President Donald Trump's UFC ring is already wreaking havoc, with a pilot being 'nearly blinded' by lights from the structure. Aaron Parnas, a political commentator based in Washington, revealed on X that a commercial pilot submitted safety reports after flying into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in D.C.
He posted: 'A commercial airline pilot filed safety reports after nearly being blinded by lights from Donald Trump's UFC structure when flying into Washington, D.C.'s Reagan airport.'
MeidasTouch reports that the aviation safety documents describe 'powerful lighting used during the construction and testing of the UFC octagon on the White House grounds allegedly shone directly into their cockpit.'
The pilot, who has chosen to remain unnamed, informed the publication that the lights 'illuminated the cockpit during the final stages of landing, a critical phase of flight when pilots rely heavily on visual references.'
The pilot described the incident as '10 times worse than any laser-illumination event' they'd previously encountered. The UFC ring is currently positioned on the White House South Lawn ahead of an event on Sunday.
The octagonal ring sits beneath a claw-shaped framework and the pilot explained that the 'powerful white event lighting' resembled a laser.
They said: '[The lighting] created a similar, and potentially more dangerous, effect by overwhelming pilots' vision during approach.'
The pilot subsequently submitted reports to both the Federal Aviation Administration and NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), while also reaching out to a local FAA office.
Aviation specialists have highlighted that unexpected bright light exposure temporarily compromises a pilot's night vision, especially during approach and landing phases. These represent some of the most crucial moments of any flight, they note, highlighting when flight crews are switching between instrument readings and external visual references.
MeidasTouch reports that FAA staff directed the pilot to contact the White House directly regarding their safety concerns. The publication also noted that the reports 'raise questions' about how effectively the White House's event planners coordinated with aviation authorities.
Reagan Airport occupies a distinctive location, encircled by landmarks and situated within some of the world's most restricted airspace. Aircraft approaching the airport regularly fly over the Lincoln Memorial, White House and other significant structures.
