NTSB: United Airlines Flight Incident at Newark

United Airlines planes at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey as observed in 2023.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports that a United Airlines captain flew too slow and too low before landing a flight from Venice, Italy, at Newark Liberty International Airport last month. The Boeing 767 hit a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike beside the runway, causing damage to a tractor-trailer truck. The truck driver experienced minor injuries. All 231 people on the aircraft were unharmed.

Dashcam footage captured the passenger jet flying over the truck, with the landing gear barely clearing the cab, followed by the sound of the light pole impacting the truck.

I just obtained this dash cam video from H&S Bakery. It shows the moment a United Airlines plane crashes into a driver’s side window on the NJ Turnpike near Newark Liberty.— Tara Lynch (@thetaralynch) May 4, 2026

In an 11-page preliminary report regarding the May 3, 2026 accident, the NTSB noted that the flight from Venice was “normal until the descent.” The flight crew initially prepared to land on runway 4R but had to switch to different runways, finally landing on runway 29. The captain controlled the aircraft while the first officer monitored instruments during the windy approach.

According to the NTSB, as the aircraft descended, the airspeed slowed. The first officer warned, “hey you are slow,” followed by, “you are still slow and a little low.” Despite hearing the call of “airspeed slow,” the captain believed the plane was set for a safe landing.

The captain recalled sensing a “thump” before touchdown, while the first officer felt a “mild jolt” near the runway. The aircraft crossed the turnpike at 19 feet above ground. Upon reaching the gate, the aircraft exhibited three punctures on its fuselage and landing gear tires with “slash marks.”

Following the incident, United reminded pilots at Newark to utilize visual glideslope indicators near the runway for safe clearance.

A United spokesperson provided no comment on the NTSB report or the captain’s current flight status when asked. The final NTSB investigation results are anticipated within a year.