United Airlines Boeing 767 hits truck and highway light pole during Newark landing

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY: A United Airlines Boeing 767 arriving from Italy struck a tractor-trailer and a light pole while flying over the New Jersey Turnpike during its final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday, May 3.

The collision resulted in non-life-threatening injuries for the truck driver and triggered a federal investigation into how the incident occurred.

United Airlines Boeing 767 crash near Newark caught on dashcam

The Boeing 767, which had traveled from Venice, was moving at speeds exceeding 160 miles per hour as it crossed over the New Jersey Turnpike near the airport, according to data from Flightradar24.

New Jersey State Police spokesman SFC Charles Marchan said in a statement that a preliminary investigation shows a tire from the plane’s landing gear and the underside of the aircraft “collided with a pole and a tractor-trailer. The pole then struck a Jeep.”

“The driver of the tractor-trailer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital,” he added.

Dashcam video from the truck captured the harrowing moments as the roar of the engines intensified just before the landing gear struck the vehicle, shattering glass and shaking the cabin.

Newark plane collision injures truck driver, escapes serious harm

The truck involved in the crash was operated by Warren Boardley, who was transporting bread to a warehouse near the airport.

Chuck Paterakis, senior vice president of transportation for Schmidt Bakery and co-owner of H&S Family of Bakeries, told CNN that Boardley was heading north on the turnpike when the plane struck him.

According to Paterakis, Boardley sustained cuts to his arm from broken glass but did not suffer serious injuries. He was able to pull over safely, and Paterakis added that Boardley is expected to be released from the hospital later that night.

Another driver, Patrick Oyulu, witnessed the low-flying aircraft and felt a massive gust of wind as the collision unfolded.

“It was just coming directly in front of the truck … I just saw smoke and debris,” he told CNN. “I think (the truck was) trying to evasively maneuver out of its way or something, but they were cornered.”

NTSB probes United Airlines low-altitude landing incident

Despite the impact, more than 200 passengers and 10 crew members on board were unharmed.

“The aircraft landed safely, taxied to the gate normally and no passengers or crew were injured,” United said in a statement.

“Our maintenance team is evaluating damage to the aircraft.” The airline confirmed it would “conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident and our crew has been removed from service as part of the process.”

Meanwhile, in a statement on X, the National Transportation Safety Board said it has launched an investigation into the incident.

It stated that "an NTSB investigator is scheduled to arrive in Newark on Monday. The agency has directed United Airlines to secure and provide both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to support the investigation. A preliminary report outlining the facts and circumstances of the event is expected within 30 days."