A United Airlines aircraft encountered an unexpected obstacle as it touched down at Newark Liberty International Airport, grazing both a light pole and a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike, officials reported on Sunday afternoon.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, United Airlines Flight 169, arriving from Venice, Italy, made its descent onto the runway just before 2 p.m. on Sunday, inadvertently striking a light pole situated along the turnpike.
Despite the incident, an airline spokesperson confirmed that the Boeing aircraft executed a “safe landing” and proceeded to taxi to the gate without any issues.
Runway 29, the designated landing strip, intersects with the highway. Typically, incoming aircraft glide over the bustling turnpike at minimal altitude, mere feet above the vehicles below, before making contact with the runway.
The New Jersey State Police reported that the aircraft’s landing gear and underside made contact with the light pole and a tractor-trailer. The collision caused the pole to topple onto a Jeep traveling on the turnpike.
The driver of the tractor-trailer was transported to a nearby hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, authorities stated.
None of the 221 passengers or 10 crew members on the international flight were injured in the collision, the airline said.
The entire flight crew was “removed from service” pending an investigation into the incident, according to the airline.
Wild video captured by witnesses cruising along the turnpike showed the plane gliding precariously close to the road. One light pole appeared to have snapped in half with the remaining lower portion bent towards the runway.
“A Spirit Airline pilot would never have this happen. Fact!” one viewer commented on the clip, which was shared on X.
Spirit Airlines shuttered after 34 years on Saturday and immediately ceased all operations, causing a chaotic domino effect at airports nationwide.
“Newark’s infrastructure finally getting revenge on the airlines for the delays,” another viewer joked.
The crash is still under investigation.
