A United Airlines aircraft struck a light pole and a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday, marking another incident that raises concerns about aviation safety in the United States.
Incident Details
United Flight 169, arriving from Venice, Italy, hit the pole and a truck around 2 p.m. local time before landing safely, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
None of the 221 passengers and 10 crew members aboard the Boeing Co. 767-400 were injured, United said. The crew has been removed from duty, and maintenance teams are evaluating the aircraft's damage.
Investigation Underway
“We will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation,” United stated. The NTSB has requested the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. An investigator arrived at Newark on Monday to interview the flight crew.
The NTSB classified the mishap as an accident due to the extent of aircraft damage. Focus areas include flight operations, weather conditions, human performance, crew resource management, aircraft performance, and air traffic control. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.
Ground Impact
The light pole was damaged, and a southbound tractor-trailer on the turnpike was also hit, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported. The truck driver was hospitalized with minor injuries and has since been released.
Airport staff inspected the runway for debris, and normal operations have resumed, the Port Authority said.
New Jersey State Police stated that preliminary information indicates a tire from the landing gear and the aircraft's belly struck the pole and the tractor-trailer. The pole then hit a Jeep traveling on the turnpike.
Broader Context
This incident follows heightened scrutiny of flight safety. In March, an Air Canada Express plane collided with a fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport, resulting in fatalities. That crash was the third major commercial aviation accident in the U.S. in 15 months.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy commented on Fox News, noting that lessons are learned from every incident and that actions are taken based on those lessons. He emphasized waiting for more information as the investigation unfolds.
Piloting modern jetliners relies heavily on flight-control computers, with pilots calculating landing angles and speeds using automated systems. Ground-based radio navigation aids provide guidance even in zero-visibility conditions.
