Investigation into United Airlines Landing Incident at Newark

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on a United Airlines flight that collided with a light pole while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport. The incident occurred on a May 3 flight from Venice, Italy. According to the report, the copilot noticed the aircraft was approaching low but did not realize this in time to suggest aborting the landing.

Crew members from the Boeing 767 flight described hearing a loud ‘thump’ and experiencing a ‘mild jolt’ as the plane descended. The first officer recalled remarking ‘you are still slow and a little low’ during the landing approach. The report does not pinpoint a definitive cause for the low approach and makes no recommendations for preventing similar incidents, pending further investigation.

The report clarified that debris from the light pole, not the plane itself, struck a bakery truck on the New Jersey Turnpike. Initially, law enforcement reported that the plane had directly hit the truck, causing minor injuries to the driver. The impact damaged the truck’s windshield and punctured its trailer, yet there were no tire marks on the truck’s cab or trailer.

The plane managed a safe landing, albeit with ‘substantial’ fuselage damage and a slashed landing tire. Thankfully, none of the 200 passengers were injured.

Regular drivers near Newark airport, familiar with low-flying planes, captured the incident on dashboard cameras. The video showed the aircraft part moving past the truck window as the driver reacted to the sounds of the plane’s engines.

Aviation expert D. Blake Stringer indicated that the pilot opted for a shallow descent approach, contrary to the advised flight path. Retired Captain Steve Arroyo noted that the flight crew did not seem to adapt adequately to the runway’s unique landing conditions, despite having opportunities to request additional time. Moreover, the runway assignment changed three times before landing, ultimately using the shortest runway amid strong winds.

Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti highlighted the difficulty posed by gusts reaching up to 31 mph. The pilot adjusted the aircraft’s speed as he turned into the wind, encountering moderate turbulence. United Airlines chose not to provide a comment on the incident.