New video has revealed the clearest view yet of the moment a United Airlines jet struck a tractor trailer and a light pole while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport. The Boeing 767 was arriving from Venice, Italy, on May 3 and still managed to land safely, despite the impact just moments before touchdown.
According to Reuters and the Associated Press, the plane was United Flight 169 and had 221 passengers and 10 crew members on board. No one on the aircraft was injured, but the truck driver suffered minor injuries and was treated and released.
What the new video appears to show
The newly circulated footage appears to show the plane flying unusually low over the New Jersey Turnpike during final approach. Investigators said the aircraft struck a light pole and a tractor trailer before continuing on to land at Newark. Reuters reported that New Jersey State Police said the aircraft’s tire and underside hit the roadside objects during approach.
The Associated Press also reported that the pole then hit a Jeep on the roadway. That means the incident did not only affect the truck and the aircraft, but also at least one other vehicle on the highway below.
How the flight still ended safely
Even after the impact, the aircraft continued to Newark and landed without any reported injuries to passengers or crew. The Port Authority said the plane sustained minor damage, and airport crews checked the runway for debris before normal operations resumed.
United said its maintenance team is examining the aircraft and that the flight crew has been removed from service during the airline’s internal review. That suggests the airline sees the event as serious, even though the landing itself ended without a larger disaster. This is an inference based on United’s decision to pull the crew from duty and begin a safety review.
Federal investigators are now focused on the approach
The Federal Aviation Administration said Flight 169 struck a light pole on the Turnpike at about 2 p.m. local time while on approach to Newark and confirmed that the Boeing 767 landed safely afterward. The agency said the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation. The FAA’s incident statement and the NTSB review will form the core of the official investigation.
The NTSB has already asked United to preserve the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. AP reported that a preliminary report is expected within about 30 days, though a full explanation could take much longer.
Why this incident is drawing so much attention
This case is getting national attention because it happened during final approach, one of the most critical moments in any flight. The idea that a widebody international jet came low enough to strike highway objects near a major airport is the kind of event that immediately raises questions about altitude, approach path, and airport surroundings. This is an inference based on the confirmed collision and the agencies now investigating it.
The AP reported that the NTSB has now classified the event as an accident rather than a minor incident because of the apparent damage involved. That change alone shows investigators believe this was more serious than an ordinary landing mishap.
What happens next
Investigators will now work through video, flight data, cockpit audio, vehicle damage, and witness evidence to determine exactly how the jet came into contact with the truck and pole. Readers can follow updates from the NTSB and the FAA.
For now, the clearest takeaway is this: a United flight from Venice struck roadside objects on approach to Newark, new video shows just how close the danger came, and federal investigators are now trying to understand how a safe landing followed such a dangerous final descent.