Newark Airport Incident: United 767 Strikes Truck on Approach

In a scene that looks more like a Hollywood stunt than a standard Sunday arrival, United Airlines Flight 169 clipped a light pole and a moving tractor-trailer while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) yesterday afternoon. Despite the terrifying collision on the New Jersey Turnpike, the Boeing 767 landed safely, and all 231 people on board walked away uninjured.

The "Too Low" Approach

The incident occurred around 1:00 PM yesterday, as the widebody jet, arriving from Venice, Italy, was lining up for Runway 29.

Dashcam footage from the truck captures the chilling moment the aircraft's landing gear and underside struck a streetlight pole before smashing into the cab of a bakery delivery truck.

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The vehicle, operated by H&S Family of Bakeries, was traveling northbound on the Turnpike when the plane’s tire reportedly shattered the driver’s side window and windshield.

The light pole, sheared off by the plane, fell onto a nearby Jeep. Miraculously, no major injuries were reported from the secondary crash.

"A Little Help from God"

The truck driver, identified as Warren Boardley of Baltimore, was delivering bread products to an airport depot when the sky seemingly fell on him.

"It could have been the opposite of what happened, and a little help from God went a long way tonight for everybody," said Chuck Paterakis, VP of the bakery company.

Boardley was hospitalized with minor cuts from flying glass to his arm and hand but was released the same day. He is being hailed for his composure in pulling the rig over safely after the impact.

Technical Trouble: Why So Low?

Aviation experts are focusing on several factors that may have led to the dangerously low altitude:

Runway 29 is Newark’s shortest at 6,725 feet. It requires a difficult "circling approach" and lacks the advanced automated landing technology found on the airport’s primary runways.
Gusty winds of up to 35 mph were reported at the time. Experts suggest the pilots may have been trying to "stick" the landing early to avoid running out of runway, leading to a lower-than-normal glide path.
While the plane taxied to the gate normally, ground crews later discovered a hole in the fuselage and damage to the landing gear.

Investigation and Fallout

The FAA and NTSB have launched a full-scale investigation into the mishap. United Airlines has confirmed that the flight crew has been removed from service pending the results of the safety review.

The NTSB has directed the airline to secure the "black boxes," the cockpit voice and flight data recorders, to determine if the incident was caused by mechanical failure, wind shear, or a loss of situational awareness in the cockpit.

For now, travelers and motorists alike are just grateful that a flight from Venice didn't end in a tragedy on I-95.