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Collision on Final Approach
A United Airlines Flight 169, a Boeing 767 arriving from Venice, Italy, struck a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike while on final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday afternoon, damaging a tractor-trailer and injuring the truck driver.
“struck a light pole and a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike while on final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport”
Multiple outlets placed the incident around 2 p.m., with ABC7 New York saying the flight struck a light pole and a tractor-trailer “while on final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday afternoon,” and AP describing the jet as coming in for a landing at Newark Liberty International Airport “on Sunday afternoon.”
ABC7 San Francisco said the incident occurred around 2 p.m. as United Flight 169 was approaching Runway 29, and it reported that the aircraft came into contact with a light pole over the southbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike.
AP added that a landing tire and the underside of the plane also hit a truck, and that “the light pole then struck a Jeep that was on the highway.”
ABC7 San Francisco said the incident occurred around 2 p.m. as United Flight 169 was approaching Runway 29, and it reported that the aircraft came into contact with a light pole over the southbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike.
CNN reported that a preliminary investigation showed “a tire from the plane’s landing gear and the underside of the plane ‘collided with a pole and a tractor-trailer. The pole then struck a Jeep,’” citing New Jersey State Police spokesman SFC Charles Marchan.
Despite the collision, all outlets agreed the aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate normally, with United saying “no passengers or 10 crew members aboard United Airlines Flight 169 were injured” in AP’s account and with NBC News quoting the airline that “struck an object over the southbound New Jersey Turnpike, causing damage to a light post and a tractor trailer traveling south on the turnpike.”
The truck driver was taken to a hospital with minor or non-life-threatening injuries and was later released, with ABC7 New York saying the driver was released and AP reporting the driver was released as well.
Who Was Hurt, What Was Hit
The incident involved 221 passengers and 10 crew members aboard United Flight 169, and no injuries were reported among those on the plane.
ABC7 New York said there were “221 passengers and 10 crew members on board, and no injuries were reported among those on the plane,” while AP similarly reported “none of the passengers or 10 crew members aboard United Airlines Flight 169 were injured.”
NBC News described the aircraft as a Boeing 767 carrying “221 passengers and 10 crew members,” and it said the plane landed safely and taxied to the gate normally with “no injuries reported on board.”
On the ground, the collision damaged highway infrastructure and a delivery vehicle, with AP stating that the landing tire and underside of the plane hit a truck and that the light pole then struck a Jeep.
ABC7 San Francisco reported that the aircraft came into contact with a light pole over the southbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike, causing damage to both the pole and a tractor-trailer traveling below.
Several outlets identified the truck driver as Warren Boardley of Baltimore, with ABC7 New York saying “The driver, Warren Boardley of Baltimore,” and CNN adding that Boardley was heading north on the turnpike to deliver bread products to a Newark airport depot.
ABC7 New York said Boardley sustained “cuts from broken glass to his arm and forearm but did not suffer serious injuries,” while CNN reported he sustained cuts to his arm from broken glass and was expected to be released later Sunday.
NBC News also described dashcam video and said the driver’s injuries included glass in his arm and hand, and it quoted Port Authority police that the plane sustained minor damage.
News12 and other local coverage similarly described non-life-threatening injuries for the tractor-trailer driver and emphasized that the plane landed safely and normal operations resumed quickly.
Investigation and Recorder Requests
Federal and state authorities launched investigations immediately after the landing, and the National Transportation Safety Board directed United to provide key flight records.
“The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed they are investigating the incident”
ABC7 New York said “The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed they are investigating the incident,” and it reported that “Officials with the FAA and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority were on site Sunday evening, conducting inspections and gathering evidence.”
AP reported that “The National Transportation Safety Board said an NTSB investigator would arrive in Newark on Monday,” and it added that the NTSB “directed United to provide the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder for the investigation,” with “A preliminary report was expected within 30 days.”
NBC News similarly stated that “An NTSB investigator is scheduled to arrive in Newark on Monday,” and it said the NTSB directed United to provide “both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder.”
Fox Business and KTLA both described the NTSB’s timeline and recorder request, with KTLA quoting the agency’s statement that “The agency has directed United Airlines to secure and provide both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to support the investigation,” and that “A preliminary report outlining the facts and circumstances of the event is expected within 30 days.”
United’s own response emphasized maintenance evaluation and a rigorous safety probe, with ABC7 New York quoting United: “Our maintenance team is evaluating damage to the aircraft and we will investigate how this occurred,” and it added that “We will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident and our crew has been removed from service as part of the process.”
Multiple outlets also reported that runway inspections were conducted and normal operations resumed quickly, including ABC7 New York’s note that “runway inspections were conducted immediately following the incident, and normal operations were quickly resumed,” and AP’s statement that “airport staff inspected the runway for debris and normal operations were quickly resumed.”
Dashcam, Speed, and Air Traffic
Witness accounts and recordings shaped early descriptions of how the collision unfolded, including dashcam footage and air traffic audio.
ABC7 New York said “Dashcam video shows the moment of impact, either from one of the plane's tires or from falling debris,” and it described the driver’s perspective as the truck was struck.
ABC7 San Francisco similarly reported “dashcam video shows the moment of impact,” and it tied the impact to the light pole “above the New Jersey Turnpike.”
CNN added more detail from flight tracking and air traffic communications, stating that the plane was going “more than 160 miles an hour when it crossed over the New Jersey Turnpike, just outside of the airport, according to flight tracking site Flightradar24.”
CNN also reported that “The pilots and air traffic control did not appear to be aware the plane had struck the light pole upon landing, according to recordings of air traffic control communications captured by LiveATC.net,” and it said the 767 was given instructions to taxi to the gate as other aircraft continued to land.
CNN further described an operational note from air traffic recordings, saying “Air traffic controllers reported ‘a hole in the side of the airplane’ to an operations vehicle preparing to inspect the runway about half an hour after the landing.”
The outlet also included a witness account from Patrick Oyulu, who told CNN: “It was just coming directly in front of the truck … I just saw smoke and debris,” and he added, “I think (the truck was) trying to evasively maneuver out of its way or something, but they were cornered.”
CNN’s account also described the sound and timing, with dashcam video from the truck showing the driver traveling as “the sound of the plane’s engines grew louder,” and then “Suddenly, the plane’s landing gear tires struck the truck, shaking it and sending shards of glass flying.”
NBC News also referenced dashcam video, saying “a loud whizzing sound can be heard before glass breaks as a piece of the light pole hit the truck while the driver was traveling on the turnpike.”
Local Officials and Company Role
Local officials and company representatives described the truck’s purpose and the immediate response, while some outlets highlighted what state authorities and the governor said.
“to deliver bread products to a Newark airport depot”
ABC7 New York quoted Chuck Paterakis, vice president of transportation for Schmidt Bakery and owner of H&S Family of Bakeries, saying the tractor-trailer belonged to Baker's Express and was en route “to deliver bread products to a Newark airport depot.”
ABC7 San Francisco similarly quoted Paterakis saying “The driver experienced a commercial plane's tires landing on the tractor or brushing the top of the tractor,” and it reported that Paterakis said the trailer was not damaged and “the bread product was not touched.”
CNN also described the driver’s route and purpose, saying Boardley was “heading north on the turnpike to deliver bread products to a Newark airport depot when the incident occurred,” and it quoted Paterakis as saying Boardley was expected to be released later Sunday.
News12 and NBC News both emphasized that runway inspections were conducted and normal operations resumed quickly, with NBC News stating “Airport staff inspected the runway for debris after the incident, and normal operations at Newark ‘quickly resumed,’ Port Authority police said.”
Several outlets also included statements from United and from federal agencies, but local coverage added a political reaction: News12 reported that Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she had been briefed and expressed relief that everyone aboard the aircraft was unharmed.
NJ’s local Western outlet reported that Sherrill tweeted Sunday, writing, “I’m grateful the aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew are unharmed,” and it said she was monitoring developments.
Across outlets, United’s statement remained consistent about maintenance evaluation and a “rigorous” safety investigation, including ABC7 New York’s quote that “We will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident and our crew has been removed from service as part of the process.”
