- By Ajeet Kumar
- Mon, 04 May 2026 01:27 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- United Airlines Flight 169 struck pole, trailer near Newark.
- Aircraft landed safely; NTSB, FAA launched investigation.
- No passenger injuries; truck driver sustained minor injuries.
In a scary situation, a United Airlines aircraft on Sunday struck a light pole and a trailer during its final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport, the National Transportation Safety Board, an agency responsible for investigating civil airline incidents, confirmed on Monday.
According to Reuters, the incident happened after the underside and tyre of United Airlines Flight 169 struck a light pole and tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike around 2 p.m. The Federal Aviation Administration said the Boeing 767-400 landed safely and was arriving from Venice, Italy.
NTSB confirms United Airlines incident
“The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into Sunday’s incident involving United Airlines Flight 169, a Boeing 767-400 operating from Venice to Newark, which struck a light pole while on approach to Newark Liberty International Airport,” NTSB said in a social media post.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into Sunday’s incident involving United Airlines Flight 169, a Boeing 767-400 operating from Venice to Newark, which struck a light pole while on approach to Newark Liberty International Airport.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) May 3, 2026
"Our maintenance team is evaluating damage to the aircraft," said a United spokesperson. "We will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident, and our crew has been removed from service as part of the process."
No injuries reported on plane
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said no injuries were reported on the plane while minor damage to the aircraft was observed. Airport staff inspected the runway for debris, and normal operations were quickly resumed, according to a spokesperson.
The tractor-trailer driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and has since been released, the Port Authority added. The New Jersey State Police said the pole also struck a Jeep traveling on the parkway.
Plane Collides With Bakery Truck on New Jersey Turnpike
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) May 3, 2026
A plane struck a bakery truck traveling northbound on the New Jersey Turnpike on Sunday at about 1:50 p.m. EST, according to officials. The truck was headed toward Newark, New Jersey, carrying products from Schmidt Bakery… pic.twitter.com/SpypZi2tmM
Probe launched
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation into the incident.
An NTSB investigator is scheduled to arrive in Newark on Monday, according to a spokesperson. The agency said it has directed United Airlines to secure and provide both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to support the investigation.”
🚨 The Newark Liberty Airport incident today is NOT SURPRISING at all.
— Alec Lace (@AlecLace) May 3, 2026
Just look at how insanely low planes fly when they cross right over the NJ Turnpike on final approach to EWR.
This is what it looks like every single day 👇 pic.twitter.com/pEYXHvt9zE
On social media, users are sharing videos where flights could be seen making the final approach, meters above the busy roads.
(With inputs from Reuters)