Key facts
- A United Airlines Boeing 767 struck a light pole and a tractor-trailer near Newark airport on May 3.
- The first officer reported the aircraft was 'slow and a little low' before the incident.
- The light pole was approximately 15 feet high.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including punctures to the fuselage and a tire.
- Debris from the light pole hit a tractor-trailer, causing minor injuries to the driver.
- All passengers and crew on board the aircraft were unharmed.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its preliminary report detailing an incident where a United Airlines Boeing 767-400 struck a light pole and a Schmidt Bakery truck on the New Jersey Turnpike near Newark Liberty International Airport on May 3. The flight, originating from Venice, Italy, was descending toward the airport when the crew experienced multiple runway changes before being assigned to runway 29. The NTSB noted the flight was 'normal until the descent.' As the plane neared the runway, its airspeed decayed, prompting the first officer to warn the captain that the aircraft was 'still slow and a little low.' The airplane descended to 18 to 19 feet above ground level as it crossed the Turnpike, striking a 15-foot-tall light pole just seconds before landing. The captain reported hearing a 'thump,' while flight attendants heard a 'loud bang.' The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including three punctures to the lower left aft fuselage and slash marks on a landing gear tire. The truck driver sustained minor injuries. All 231 crew members and passengers aboard the flight were unharmed and deplaned safely at the gate. Following the accident, United Airlines issued a safety alert to pilots regarding the use of visual glideslope indicators and the risks associated with 'ducking under' the glide path during approaches at Newark airport.