A United Airlines Boeing 767 struck a lamppost and a truck on the New Jersey Turnpike during approach to Newark. The plane landed safely.
A United Airlines jet struck a lamppost and a delivery truck as it approached Newark, but the flight ultimately landed safely.
The incident happened on Sunday as United Airlines Flight 169 came in to land at Newark Liberty International Airport. Misryoum reports that investigators say the aircraft hit a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike around 2 p.m. local time.
In an FAA statement shared for the incident, officials said the Boeing 767 landed safely after arriving from Venice, Italy. They also said the agency would investigate the circumstances, noting that the plane sustained minor damage.
Why it matters: Even when there are no major injuries, strikes involving airport approaches and vehicles on nearby roadways can raise immediate questions about landing procedures and ground safety.
Officials with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said the aircraft caused damage to a light post and to a tractor trailer traveling south on the NJ Turnpike. Misryoum also reported that the truck’s wheel struck the driver’s window.
The truck involved was associated with H&S Bakery, according to a company executive who said the truck was unscathed overall. The same statement said the driver suffered minor cuts and was taken to hospital, later being released.
On board the aircraft, authorities said there were 221 passengers and 10 crew members. United Airlines said it would conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation and removed the crew from service as part of the process.
Meanwhile, New Jersey State Police responded to the highway incident, and the aircraft manufacturer was not immediately available for comment, according to Misryoum.
At the end, incidents like this are a reminder that aviation safety is not limited to the runway. The moments leading up to landing can affect communities well beyond airport boundaries, which is why investigations tend to be closely watched.