United Jet Incident at Newark Airport Under Investigation After Highway Collision

A United Airlines passenger aircraft arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport from Venice, Italy, struck a light pole on the adjacent New Jersey Turnpike during its final approach on Sunday, causing damage to a delivery truck and prompting an investigation by U.S. aviation authorities.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Boeing 767-400 aircraft operating as United Flight 169, came into contact with the pole while descending toward Runway 29, which runs close to the busy highway.

New Jersey State Police said the aircraft’s landing gear and underside also struck a tractor-trailer travelling on the Turnpike at the time of the incident. The impact damaged the truck and sent the driver to hospital with minor injuries, officials confirmed.

Despite the collision, the plane landed safely and taxied to the gate without further incident. All 221 passengers and 10 crew members onboard were unharmed, according to United Airlines and airport authorities.

The fallen light pole reportedly also struck another vehicle, a Jeep, as it collapsed onto the roadway. Emergency services responded quickly and cleared the area while airport operations continued with minimal disruption.

United Airlines said its maintenance team is assessing the aircraft for damage, while the flight crew has been temporarily removed from duty pending a full internal safety review.

Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into the incident, with investigators expected to arrive at Newark to examine flight data and cockpit recordings.