An investigation has been initiated following an incident involving a United Airlines flight that struck a light pole and a truck on the New Jersey Turnpike while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday afternoon. The event raises significant safety concerns.
Dash cam footage captures Flight UA169, a Boeing 767 originating from Venice, Italy, making a low approach over the turnpike, where it collided with the vehicle carrying workers to Smith’s Bakery depot in Newark. Preliminary findings from New Jersey State Police indicate that a tire from the plane’s landing gear and the underside of the aircraft contacted both the pole and the truck. The collision resulted in the light pole also impacting a Jeep on the turnpike.
Warren Boardley, the truck driver, suffered minor injuries, primarily from glass debris, and was taken to the hospital but has since been released. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that it is investigating the matter.
Witness accounts and cellphone videos show Flight UA169 flying at a dangerously low altitude before landing just after 2 p.m. According to the airline, the aircraft managed to land safely and taxi to the gate without any injuries to passengers or crew. They are currently assessing damage to the plane.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched a formal investigation to uncover the factors contributing to the incident. Investigators seek answers regarding the aircraft’s low altitude and the circumstances leading to this near-miss. Conditions due to wind may have influenced the landing approach, which was unusual for this flight, as it normally used longer runways. Runway 29, the shortest available, requires pilots to make a more complex landing approach.
The incident has drawn considerable attention from the public, with many expressing shock and concern about the safety of air travel. The next steps in the investigation will ascertain the precise causes of this alarming event.
