TL;DR
- A United Airlines plane hit a light pole on approach to Newark.
- The incident injured a driver on the New Jersey Turnpike.
- The plane landed safely with no injuries on board.
- The driver suffered minor injuries and was hospitalized.
- Investigations by FAA and NTSB are underway.
In a dramatic turn of events, a United Airlines flight found itself in a bit of a pickle as it approached Newark Liberty International Airport. The Boeing 767, carrying 221 passengers and 10 crew members, struck a light pole while descending over the southbound New Jersey Turnpike. Talk about a close shave!
According to the Port Authority Police Department, the collision caused damage to both the light post and a tractor trailer traveling on the Turnpike. A piece of the pole struck the vehicle, injuring the driver, who was promptly whisked away to the hospital with minor injuries. Thankfully, he has since been released, but let’s just say he’s got a wild story to tell.
“It’s a miracle,” said Chuck Paterakis, who oversees transportation for Schmidt Bakery, the company for which the driver was transporting products. “It could have been traumatically worse.” And he’s not wrong! The dashcam footage shared with NBC News captures the moment perfectly, with a loud whizzing sound followed by the shattering of glass as the pole made its mark.
Meanwhile, the United flight, which had originated from Venice, Italy, landed safely around 2 p.m. and taxied to the gate without any reported injuries among the passengers or crew. A spokesperson for United Airlines confirmed that the aircraft sustained minor damage, and their maintenance team is currently evaluating the situation.
In response to the incident, United Airlines stated, “We will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident and our crew has been removed from service as part of the process.” Meanwhile, airport staff wasted no time inspecting the runway for debris, and normal operations at Newark quickly resumed.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are now investigating the incident. An NTSB investigator is expected to arrive in Newark on Monday, and they have directed United Airlines to provide both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder for analysis. A preliminary report is anticipated within the next 30 days.
So, while the skies above Newark may be clear again, this incident serves as a reminder of the unexpected twists life can throw our way—sometimes from above!