NEWARK, New Jersey — A United Airlines flight arriving from Italy clipped a light pole over the New Jersey Turnpike as it neared Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday afternoon. The incident caused damage to a tractor-trailer below, resulting in the driver being hospitalized with minor injuries, authorities reported.
The event occurred at approximately 2 p.m. when United Flight 169, a Boeing 767-400 traveling from Venice to Newark, was on its final approach to Runway 29. According to airport officials, the plane made contact with a light pole over the southbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike, damaging both the pole and the tractor-trailer on the highway.
Despite this collision, the aircraft managed to land safely. Onboard were 221 passengers and 10 crew members, none of whom were injured. United Airlines stated that the plane taxied to the gate without further incident and suffered only minor damage.
“Our maintenance team is currently assessing the aircraft’s damage, and we will thoroughly investigate how this incident occurred,” United Airlines said in a statement. “A comprehensive flight safety investigation will be conducted, and the crew involved has been temporarily removed from service as part of the procedure.”
The Port Authority Police Department, along with New Jersey State Police, responded promptly to the scene on the Turnpike. Officials confirmed that the tractor-trailer’s driver, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, has since been discharged from the hospital.
Following the incident, airport authorities performed runway inspections to ensure safety, and normal operations resumed shortly thereafter.
According to Chuck Paterakis, vice president of transportation for Schmidt Bakery and owner of H&S Family of Bakeries, the tractor-trailer involved belonged to Baker’s Express and was en route to deliver bread products to a Newark airport depot.
“The driver experienced a commercial plane’s tires landing on the tractor or brushing the top of the tractor,” Paterakis told ABC News.
The driver, Warren Boardley of Baltimore, was traveling northbound on the Turnpike at the time of the incident. Paterakis said Boardley was able to safely pull over after the strike and contact his employer.
“The trailer is not damaged, and the bread product was not touched,” Paterakis said.
Boardley sustained cuts from broken glass to his arm and forearm but did not suffer serious injuries.
“Everybody, the driver and everybody on the plane, should be very fortunate,” Paterakis said. “Because it could have been the opposite of what happened, and a little help from God went a long way tonight for everybody on the plane, and including the driver.”
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it is investigating the incident.
Officials with the FAA and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority were on site Sunday evening, conducting inspections and gathering evidence.
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