United Airlines Plane Strikes Streetlight and Truck During Newark Landing

A United Airlines Boeing 767 made headlines after striking a streetlight and a tractor-trailer while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday. The aircraft was operating as United Flight 169, arriving from Venice, Italy, and was traveling at speeds exceeding 160 miles per hour when the incident occurred over the New Jersey Turnpike.

According to New Jersey State Police, the plane’s landing gear tire and underside collided with the roadside pole and a nearby tractor-trailer. This collision resulted in the light pole striking a Jeep parked nearby. The truck driver, identified as Warren Boardley from Baltimore, sustained minor injuries due to shattered glass and was subsequently taken to the hospital, where he is expected to recover.

Eyewitnesses described the harrowing moment as the plane flew extremely low over the highway, with reports of smoke and debris filling the air. Dashcam footage captured the moment of impact, highlighting the dangers posed by the airport’s proximity to the Turnpike.

Despite the serious nature of the incident, United Airlines confirmed that the plane landed safely and taxied to the gate without any injuries reported among the more than 200 passengers and 10 crew members onboard. The airline has initiated a thorough inspection of the aircraft and removed the flight crew from service while the National Transportation Safety Board launches its investigation into the event.

The runway at Newark airport is notably close to the highway, leading to low approaches during certain landings, which raises safety concerns that will likely be addressed in the ongoing investigation.