A United Airlines aircraft struck a light pole during its final approach into Newark Liberty International Airport on May 3, causing damage to infrastructure and a tractor-trailer on a nearby highway, authorities confirmed.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), United Airlines Flight 169, a Boeing 767-400 arriving from Venice, Italy, made contact with a light pole located along the New Jersey Turnpike at around 2pm local time while descending towards the airport. Despite the incident, the aircraft landed safely.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said no injuries were reported among passengers on board, although minor damage was observed on the aircraft. Airport crews carried out inspections of the runway shortly after landing to ensure no debris posed further risk, and normal operations resumed without major disruption.
A United Airlines spokesperson said the company’s maintenance team is currently assessing the extent of the damage. The airline has also launched a formal internal safety investigation, and the flight crew involved has been temporarily removed from duty pending review.
“The aircraft is undergoing evaluation, and we are conducting a rigorous safety investigation,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the incident also impacted ground traffic, with a tractor-trailer travelling along the highway sustaining damage. The driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries and has since been discharged, according to the Port Authority.
Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have opened investigations into the incident. An NTSB investigator is expected to arrive in Newark to begin examining the case, with authorities also requesting the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder for analysis.
Officials say investigations are ongoing to determine how the aircraft came into contact with the ground structure during its landing approach.
