Passenger Jet Hits Lamp-post and Truck During Newark Landing

United Airlines Flight 169 struck a light pole and a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike during its final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday, May 3, 2026.

The Boeing 767-400, arriving from Venice, Italy, landed safely with 221 passengers and 10 crew members on board. No injuries were reported among the passengers or flight crew and the aircraft taxied to the gate normally after the incident, according to statements from United Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The incident occurred around 2 p.m. Local time on May 3. A preliminary investigation by the New Jersey State Police indicated that a tire from the plane’s landing gear and the underside of the aircraft collided with a light pole and a tractor-trailer traveling south on the New Jersey Turnpike. The impact caused the light pole to strike a Jeep that was also traveling on the highway.

Ground Injuries and Damage

The driver of the tractor-trailer, identified as Warren Boardley, was transported to a hospital with minor injuries and was later released. The truck was operated by H&S Bakery and was traveling to a depot in Newark at the time of the collision.

Chuck Paterakis, a senior vice president for H&S Bakery, stated that the truck was unscathed but noted that the wheel of the commercial plane crashed into the driver’s window. Paterakis reported that Boardley was treated for small cuts resulting from glass in his hand and arm.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that the aircraft sustained minor damage. Airport staff inspected the runway for debris before normal operations resumed.

Investigation and Safety Review

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into the cause of the collision. An NTSB investigator was scheduled to arrive in Newark on Monday, May 4, 2026. The agency has directed United Airlines to provide the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder for analysis.

United Airlines stated that its maintenance team is currently evaluating the damage to the Boeing 767. The airline also confirmed that the flight crew has been removed from service as part of its internal review.

We will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident and our crew has been removed from service as part of this process.

United Airlines spokesperson

The aircraft was landing on Runway 29, which begins less than 400 feet from the edge of the New Jersey Turnpike. While not always in use, the runway is utilized when wind conditions are favorable, often resulting in aircraft passing at low altitudes over the highway.