United 767 strikes truck, light pole during approach

Dhaka: A United Airlines Boeing 767 struck a tractor-trailer and a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike while on final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on May 3, injuring the truck driver but leaving all passengers and crew unharmed.

Flight 169, arriving from Venice, Italy, was carrying 221 passengers and 10 crew members when the incident occurred during approach to Runway 29 at around 14:00 local time.

New Jersey State Police said a tire from the aircraft's landing gear and part of its underside struck the tractor-trailer and the light pole. The pole subsequently hit another vehicle on the highway. The truck driver suffered minor cuts from broken glass and was taken to a hospital.

The aircraft, identified by flight tracking service Flightradar24 as N77066, a Boeing 767-400ER, landed safely and taxied to the gate. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed the incident caused damage to the pole, the truck, and the aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the incident, with the NTSB in lead.

United has been directed to preserve the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. An investigator was expected to arrive on-site by May 4, and a preliminary report is expected within 30 days.

United said its maintenance team was assessing damage to the aircraft. The airline also removed the crew from duty pending its internal investigation.

Runway 29's approach path crosses near the Turnpike, where aircraft on final approach can appear unusually low from the ground. However, contact with a light pole or a vehicle remains highly abnormal and is expected to draw close scrutiny of the aircraft's approach path, altitude, descent rate, and obstacle clearance.

Airport staff swept the runway for debris following the incident. Normal operations at EWR subsequently resumed, according to the Port Authority.

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