United Flight 169 Strikes Light Pole, Delivery Truck During Landing Approach at Newark Liberty

A United Airlines Boeing 767 flight from Venice, Italy struck a light pole and a delivery truck during its landing approach at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday, May 3, injuring only the truck driver and causing minor damage to the aircraft.

“NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- A United Airlines flight arriving from Italy struck a light pole and a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike while on final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday afternoon, damaging the truck and sending its driver to the hospital with minor injuries, authorities said”

ABC7 New York

Multiple outlets tied the incident to United Flight 169 and placed the contact around 2 p.m. local time, with the Federal Aviation Administration describing the event as occurring on the New Jersey Turnpike.

ABC7 New York

Sky TG24 reported that the FAA said the Boeing 767 “è atterrato in sicurezza” and that “Durante l'atterraggio, il volo United Airlines 169 ha colpito un palo della luce sulla New Jersey Turnpike intorno alle 14:00 ora locale di domenica 3 maggio,” adding that the aircraft suffered “danni lievi.”

News12 similarly said dashcam video captured the moment a United Airlines plane struck a light pole and a tractor-trailer during its approach, and it reported that state troopers responded at 1:58 p.m.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and United both said the plane landed safely and that no passengers or crew were injured, while the truck driver was taken to a hospital for minor injuries and later released.

NBC News quoted the Port Authority Police Department saying the plane “struck an object over the southbound New Jersey Turnpike, causing damage to a light post and a tractor trailer traveling south on the turnpike,” and it described dashcam video showing glass breaking as the truck was hit.

Across the accounts, the aircraft was described as a Boeing 767-400 in some reports, and the incident was consistently framed as a close call on final approach rather than an in-flight emergency.

The incident involved a United Airlines flight carrying 221 passengers and 10 crew members, with multiple sources specifying the passenger and crew counts as well as the flight’s origin in Venice.

Sky TG24 said “A bordo dell'aereo erano presenti 221 passeggeri e 10 membri dell'equipaggio,” and it reported that “Nessun ferito è stato segnalato a bordo dell'aereo.”

ABC7 San Francisco

Fox Business likewise said Flight 169 was traveling from Venice, Italy to New Jersey and that “All 221 passengers and 10 crew members were unharmed,” while it added that United said the aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate.

CNN described the flight as a Boeing 767 arriving from Venice, Italy carrying “more than 200 passengers and 10 crew members,” and it said no one on board was hurt and the plane landed normally.

South China Morning Post reported that a United Airlines jet “escaped a major disaster” and said the FAA and airline were investigating after the flight from Italy struck a pole on the New Jersey Turnpike, and it stated the incident occurred “around 2pm local time on Sunday.”

NewsNation’s WPIX account said the spokesperson told it United flight UA169 “came into contact with a light pole” during its final approach just before 2 p.m., and it also said “none of the 231 passengers and crew members were hurt,” while it described the witness video of the Boeing 767-400 overhead.

Bergen Record and USA Today both described 221 passengers and 10 crew members aboard and said the aircraft landed “without incident” or safely, with the driver injured on the ground.

Accounts of the ground impact centered on the truck driver’s injuries and on video evidence showing the approach and the moment of contact.

“United flight landing in Newark strikes pole on New Jersey Turnpike, damages delivery truck NEWARK, N”

Associated Press

Chuck Paterakis, identified by Sky TG24 as “vicepresidente senior dell'azienda” and by CNN as senior vice president of transportation for Schmidt Bakery, described the mechanism of the injury, saying “La ruota dell'aereo di linea si è schiantata contro il finestrino del conducente” of the H&S Bakery vehicle and that “L'autista ha riportato lievi ferite da taglio” due to broken glass.

CNN named the driver as Warren Boardley of Baltimore and said Boardley sustained cuts to his arm from broken glass but “did not suffer serious injuries and was able to pull over safely,” adding that he was expected to be released later Sunday.

NBC News similarly said the driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries and had since been released, and it described dashcam video shared with NBC News where “a loud whizzing sound can be heard before glass breaks as a piece of the light pole hit the truck.”

CNN also included a second 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.”

News12 said the pole broke on impact and then struck a Jeep also traveling on the Turnpike, and it reported that the tractor-trailer driver suffered “non‑life‑threatening injuries.”

South China Morning Post reported that the delivery truck driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and released, citing the Port Authority statement.

The incident triggered investigations by federal aviation authorities and the National Transportation Safety Board, with multiple outlets describing what investigators were expected to do and what evidence United was directed to provide.

Sky TG24 said “Funzionari della Federal Aviation Administration hanno poi confermato che il Boeing 767 protagonista dell'incidente è atterrato in sicurezza,” and it reported that the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board opened an investigation to clarify the dynamics.

Bergen Record

Fox Business stated that the NTSB opened a probe and said an investigator was expected to arrive in Newark on Monday, and it quoted the NTSB email: “The agency has directed United Airlines to secure and provide both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to support the investigation.”

It also said “A preliminary report outlining the facts and circumstances of the event is expected within 30 days.”

NewsNation’s WPIX account similarly reported that the NTSB said an investigator would be on the ground in Newark on Monday and repeated that “The agency has directed United Airlines to secure and provide both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to support the investigation,” with a preliminary report expected within 30 days.

NBC News likewise said the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board confirmed they were investigating, and it said an NTSB investigator is scheduled to arrive in Newark on Monday and that the agency directed United to provide both recorders.

The airline’s response was described as a safety review and a maintenance assessment of damage, with Fox Business quoting United’s statement that it would conduct “a full safety review” and that maintenance teams were inspecting the aircraft.

Public officials and airport operators reacted quickly, emphasizing that the aircraft landed safely and that normal operations resumed after debris checks.

“A United Airlines flight landing at Newark Liberty International Airport hit a streetlight and a tractor-trailer on the nearby highway on Sunday, injuring the truck’s driver, according to the New Jersey State Police”

CNN

NewsNation reported that Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she had been briefed on the incident involving United Flight 169 and expressed relief that everyone aboard the aircraft was unharmed, quoting her: “I’m grateful the aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew are unharmed.”

CNN

It also quoted the Port Authority statement saying, “Airport staff inspected the runway for debris and normal operations were quickly resumed,” and it said Port Authority Police and New Jersey State Police responded to the Turnpike.

Bergen Record similarly said Gov. Mikie Sherrill posted on X that she had been briefed, repeating, “I’m grateful the aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew are unharmed,” and it described the incident as occurring on Runway 29 while passing over southbound lanes of the Turnpike.

USA Today reported that the Port Authority said “Airport staff inspected the runway for debris and normal operations were quickly resumed,” and it said United would conduct a “rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident” with the crew removed from service.

CNN added that the pilots and air traffic control did not appear to be aware the plane had struck the light pole upon landing, and it said the 767 was given instructions to taxi to the gate as other aircraft continued to land on the same runway.

In parallel, Sky TG24 said United intended to “condurre un'indagine approfondita sulla sicurezza del volo in merito all'incidente,” and it reported that the FAA said the aircraft had “danni lievi.”