The BRICS TimesA United Airlines flight carrying 221 passengers and 10 crew members from Venice, Italy, barely avoided a major tragedy its landing gear clipped a highway light pole and a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike while descending toward Newark Liberty International Airport. Everyone on board walked away unharmed.
A Close Call at 2 PM on a Sunday Afternoon
A United Airlines Boeing 767-400 carrying 221 passengers and 10 crew members came terrifyingly close to disaster on Sunday. Flight 169, arriving from Venice, Italy, was on final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport’s Runway 29. It was around 2 p.m. local time when the unthinkable almost happened.
The aircraft’s landing tire and underside struck a light pole on the busy southbound New Jersey Turnpike. The impact also damaged a tractor-trailer truck traveling below a split-second collision that could have ended very differently.
What Exactly Happened on the Turnpike?
New Jersey State Police launched a preliminary investigation right away. Their early findings confirmed that a landing tire and the aircraft’s underside collided with both a pole and a tractor-trailer. To make things worse the toppled pole then went on to strike a Jeep also traveling the highway.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that the tractor-trailer’s driver suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital. He was treated and released shortly after. No one on board the aircraft reported any injuries at all.
United Airlines Responds Crew Removed From Service
United Airlines confirmed that the Boeing 767-400 touched down safely and taxied to the gate without any issues. The airline said in a statement “Our maintenance team is evaluating damage to the aircraft.” It also confirmed a “rigorous flight safety investigation” is now underway.
In a move that follows standard safety protocol, the airline added “Our crew has been removed from service as part of the process.” Meanwhile, runway operations at Newark returned to normal after a full debris inspection cleared the area.
Federal Investigators Step In
The National Transportation Safety Board the lead federal agency for such probes said one of its investigators would arrive at Newark on Monday. The NTSB directed United Airlines to secure and preserve both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder.
The Federal Aviation Administration also stepped in. The FAA confirmed the Boeing 767 landed safely and said it would investigate the incident thoroughly. A preliminary report outlining the full facts of the incident is expected within 30 days.
Governor Weighs In on the Incident
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said she had been briefed on the situation. She expressed relief in a social media statement “I’m grateful the aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew are unharmed.” She added that United Airlines is actively investigating how the incident unfolded.
The incident comes just days after a United Airlines pilot reported a possible drone encounter while on approach to San Diego International Airport raising fresh questions about aviation safety around busy American airports.
Akshay Didwaniya
Aditya Didwaniya
Mayur Mohta
