A United Airlines flight clipped a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike during its final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday, sending debris crashing onto vehicles below and injuring a truck driver in a near-miss aviation disaster that authorities are now investigating.
Dashcam Captures Terrifying Moment
Dashcam footage obtained by PIX11 shows United flight UA169 flying dangerously low over the New Jersey Turnpike moments before impact. The video, shared by H&S Bakery’s senior vice president of Transportation and Logistics Chuck Paterakis, captures the aircraft passing directly overhead before striking the pole. Debris from the shattered light pole rained down onto the roadway, damaging a Schmidt Bakery driver’s vehicle and a tractor-trailer traveling below. The truck driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
United Airlines confirmed that flight UA169 made contact with a light pole during its final approach just before 2 p.m. Sunday. The Port Authority reported that a tractor-trailer on the turnpike sustained damage in the incident. Despite the collision, the aircraft landed safely at Newark Liberty with all passengers and crew unharmed. The Federal Aviation Administration launched an immediate investigation into how a commercial airliner came into contact with ground infrastructure during what should have been a routine landing approach.
Governor Responds to Aviation Scare
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill issued a statement addressing the alarming incident. She confirmed receiving briefings on the collision and expressed relief that the aircraft landed without injuries to those aboard. Initial reports indicated the landing tire and underside of the plane collided with both the pole and the tractor-trailer below. The damaged pole then struck a Jeep traveling on the turnpike, creating a cascade of collisions across multiple vehicles.
Investigation Underway Into Dangerous Approach
United Airlines announced an internal investigation to determine how the aircraft descended low enough to strike ground infrastructure. The preliminary investigation revealed the plane’s landing gear and underside made contact with the pole during approach, raising serious questions about altitude protocols and safety procedures. The crash remains under active investigation by both the FAA and United, with officials working to understand why the aircraft was flying at such a dangerously low altitude over a busy highway. The incident highlights potential risks to motorists traveling near major airports when aircraft deviate from standard approach patterns.
