Federal authorities are investigating an incident in which a United Airlines passenger jet struck a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that United Airlines Flight 169, a Boeing 767 arriving from Venice, Italy, made contact with the pole at approximately 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Incident Details
The aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate without further incident. The airline stated that no passengers or crew members sustained injuries. United Airlines reported that its maintenance team is assessing the damage to the aircraft, and the flight crew has been removed from service pending a thorough safety investigation.
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on social media platform X that it has launched an investigation into the occurrence. An NTSB investigator is expected to arrive in Newark on Monday. The agency has instructed United to preserve the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder for analysis. A preliminary report is anticipated within 30 days.
United Airlines emphasized its commitment to safety, stating that it is conducting a rigorous flight safety investigation. The airline also noted that the aircraft landed normally and passengers disembarked without any issues.
