United flight landing in Newark strikes pole on New Jersey Turnpike,
damages delivery truck
[May 04, 2026]
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A
United Airlines passenger jet carrying 221 passengers from Venice,
Italy, struck a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike on Sunday
afternoon as it was coming in for a landing at Newark Liberty
International Airport, authorities said.
The airline said none of the passengers or 10 crew members aboard United
Airlines Flight 169 were injured. |

The New York City skyline is seen behind Newark Liberty International
Airport in Newark, N.J., Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth
Wenig,File) |
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The New Jersey State Police said a landing tire and the
underside of the plane also hit a truck, and the light pole then
struck a Jeep that was on the highway. The driver of the truck
was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and was released,
said the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which
operates the airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Boeing 767 aircraft
landed safely after it “came into contact with a light pole” on
its final approach to Newark.
Aircraft landing on one of the main runways at Newark come
sailing in, low, over multiple lanes of traffic on the Turnpike,
which is one of the most congested parts of Interstate 95. The
runway begins a stone’s throw from the edge of the highway.
Officials with the port authority confirmed that an object was
struck and that a delivery truck on the turnpike at the time
also was damaged. Minor damage to the aircraft was observed,
airport staff inspected the runway for debris and normal
operations were quickly resumed, according to the port
authority.
United said its maintenance team was evaluating damage to the
aircraft and that the crew was removed from service while it
conducts a “rigorous” flight safety investigation.
The National Transportation Safety Board said an NTSB
investigator would arrive in Newark on Monday and that it had
directed United to provide the cockpit voice recorder and the
flight data recorder for the investigation.
A preliminary report was expected within 30 days, the NTSB said.
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