Key takeaways:
- United Airlines Flight UA169, a Boeing 767 from Venice, Italy, struck a light pole and a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike during final approach to Newark Airport.
- The tractor-trailer driver sustained minor injuries and was hospitalized but later released; no passengers or crew on the plane were injured.
- The FAA and NTSB are investigating the incident, with the NTSB expecting a preliminary report within 30 days.
A United Airlines Boeing 767 struck a light pole and a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike during its final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday afternoon, officials said. Flight UA169, which originated in Venice, Italy, carried 221 passengers and 10 crew members. The incident occurred just before 2 p.m. as the plane was approaching Runway 29.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported that the aircraft came into contact with a light pole, causing damage to both the pole and a tractor-trailer traveling southbound on the turnpike. The pole also struck a Jeep on the highway. The driver of the tractor-trailer was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, including glass in his arm and hand, and was later released. Chuck Paterakis, who oversees transportation for Schmidt Bakery, confirmed the driver was transporting company products at the time and described the outcome as “a miracle” given the potential severity.
New Jersey State Police indicated that a tire from the plane’s landing gear and the underside of the aircraft hit the pole and the truck. Despite the collision, the plane landed safely, taxied to the gate normally, and no passengers or crew were injured. United Airlines stated that its maintenance team is evaluating the damage and that the crew involved has been removed from service pending a safety investigation.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into the incident. An NTSB investigator is scheduled to arrive in Newark on Monday. The agency has requested the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from United Airlines and expects to release a preliminary report within 30 days.
Airport staff inspected the runway for debris following the event, and normal operations at Newark quickly resumed. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill expressed relief on social media, stating, “I’m grateful the aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew are unharmed.”
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