US Passenger Jet Flying Low Over Highway Strikes Streetlight and Truck

Only 121 Meters Separate Runway Threshold and Highway
Driver Transported to Hospital, No Life-Threatening Injuries

A United Airlines passenger aircraft landing at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey was involved in an accident in which it struck both a streetlight and a large truck on a nearby highway. Fortunately, the aircraft landed safely on the runway afterward, and no injuries were reported among passengers or crew members.


On May 6, Yonhap News TV, citing foreign media outlets such as the New York Post, reported on the incident involving an aircraft approaching the runway that struck vehicles on the highway in the United States.

The accident occurred around 2 p.m. on the 3rd when United Airlines Flight 169, a Boeing 767 departing from Venice, Italy, was approaching runway 29 at Newark Liberty International Airport. Airpronews

The accident occurred around 2 p.m. on the 3rd when United Airlines Flight 169, a Boeing 767 departing from Venice, Italy, was approaching runway 29 at Newark Liberty International Airport. Airpronews

원본보기 아이콘

According to the reports, the accident occurred around 2 p.m. on the 3rd as United Airlines Flight 169, a Boeing 767 that departed from Venice, Italy, was approaching runway 29 at Newark Liberty International Airport. There were a total of 231 people on board, including 221 passengers and 10 crew members. The New Jersey State Police stated that a preliminary investigation found the aircraft's landing gear tire and lower fuselage struck a streetlight pole and a tractor-trailer near the New Jersey Turnpike outside the airport. The impact caused the streetlight pole to fall toward a Jeep vehicle passing by on the road.


As a result of the accident, the tractor-trailer driver, Warren Bodley, sustained injuries to his arm and other areas from glass shards and was transported to the hospital. His injuries were reported as non-life-threatening. It was reported that Bodley was driving along the highway to deliver bread products to the Newark Airport logistics center at the time. The truck black box footage captured a scene where an aircraft approaches with the engine sound gradually increasing, followed by the aircraft's wheel or part of the fuselage brushing against the truck, causing the vehicle to shake violently. Immediately after the impact, glass shards scattered in all directions, but the driver was able to bring the vehicle to a safe stop.


United Airlines said in a statement, "The aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate as normal," adding, "There were no injuries among the passengers or crew." The airline explained that a maintenance team is assessing the extent of the aircraft's damage, and that the crew involved have been removed from duty while an investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.

The truck's dashcam footage captured a scene where an airplane approaches with the engine sound gradually increasing, followed by the airplane's wheel or part of the fuselage brushing against the truck, causing the vehicle to shake violently. Airpronews

The truck's dashcam footage captured a scene where an airplane approaches with the engine sound gradually increasing, followed by the airplane's wheel or part of the fuselage brushing against the truck, causing the vehicle to shake violently. Airpronews

원본보기 아이콘

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the accident. The NTSB plans to secure and analyze the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, and a preliminary report is expected to be released in the future. Runway 29, where the accident occurred, is located near the New Jersey Turnpike, which has heavy vehicle traffic. For this reason, aircraft approaching this runway sometimes land while flying low over the highway. However, incidents like this one, where an aircraft makes contact with road infrastructure or vehicles, are highly unusual. According to air traffic control records, neither the pilot nor air traffic controllers immediately realized that the aircraft had struck a streetlight or truck. After landing, the aircraft taxied to the gate without any noticeable problems, and authorities and the airline are now investigating the exact cause of the accident and the extent of the aircraft's damage.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.