A United Airlines aircraft struck a tractor-trailer and a streetlight while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport, injuring a truck driver and triggering a federal safety investigation.
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A United Airlines aircraft struck a tractor-trailer and a streetlight while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport, injuring a truck driver and triggering a federal safety investigation.
The incident occurred as the Boeing 767 approached the runway from Venice, Italy. According to New Jersey State Police, the aircraft’s landing gear and underside made contact with roadside infrastructure and a vehicle travelling on the adjacent highway.
Preliminary findings indicate the aircraft descended at low altitude over the New Jersey Turnpike when the impact occurred.
State Police spokesperson Charles Marchan said a tyre from the landing gear and the underside of the aircraft “collided with a pole and a tractor-trailer”, with the pole subsequently striking a Jeep. The driver of the truck sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital.
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft travelling at more than 160 miles per hour as it crossed the highway just before touchdown.
Despite the collision, the aircraft landed safely and continued normal operations on the ground.
According to a statement from United Airlines, no passengers or crew were injured. The flight was carrying more than 200 passengers and 10 crew members.
The airline said the aircraft taxied to the gate as usual and is now undergoing a technical evaluation. It added that the crew has been removed from service pending a full safety review.
Video footage from the truck’s dashcam showed the aircraft descending as engine noise intensified before impact. The collision shattered glass and shook the vehicle.
The driver, identified as Warren Boardley, was transporting bakery goods to an airport facility, according to company officials cited by CNN. He suffered cuts to his arm but was able to stop the vehicle safely and was expected to be discharged from hospital later the same day.
Eyewitness Patrick Oyulu told CNN he saw the aircraft approaching at low altitude, followed by debris and smoke as the incident unfolded.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation and is sending personnel to Newark. The agency will analyse the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder as part of its inquiry.
Runway 29, where the aircraft landed, begins less than 400 feet from the edge of the highway, a configuration that exposes road traffic to low-flying aircraft under certain wind conditions.
According to air traffic control recordings cited by CNN, neither the pilots nor controllers appeared aware that the aircraft had struck the pole during landing. The plane was instructed to taxi normally while other aircraft continued to use the runway.
The incident underscores the operational complexities of airports located near major transport corridors.
While such runway configurations are not uncommon, the proximity of high-speed road traffic increases exposure to risk during low-altitude approaches. Aviation authorities will examine whether additional safeguards or procedural adjustments are required.
For United Airlines, the focus will remain on technical inspection and cooperation with investigators as the cause of the collision is established.
The findings of the federal inquiry are expected to shape any safety recommendations, particularly around approach paths and infrastructure clearance in densely built airport environments.
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