A United Airlines aircraft struck a light pole and a trailer during its final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport, as revealed by shocking new video footage. The underside and tire of United Airlines Flight 169 hit a light pole and a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike around 2 pm, according to a New Jersey State Police spokesperson.
Incident Details
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the Boeing 767-400, arriving from Venice, Italy, landed safely. New video captured the passenger plane within feet of total disaster as it clipped the objects during its descent.
A United spokesperson stated, 'Our maintenance team is evaluating damage to the aircraft. We will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident and our crew has been removed from service as part of the process.'
Injuries and Damage
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported no injuries on the plane, with only minor damage observed to the aircraft. Airport staff inspected the runway for debris, and normal operations quickly resumed, according to a spokesperson. The tractor-trailer driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and has since been released. After being struck by the plane, the pole also hit a Jeep traveling on the parkway.
Investigation Underway
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation into the incident. The NTSB has directed United Airlines to secure and provide both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder to support the investigation.
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