...
By Hollie Silverman
News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A shocking video has come out showing the dramatic moment a United Airlines flight hit a tractor-trailer truck as it was driving near Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday afternoon.
Authorities are investigating after the plane struck the truck and a light pole along the New Jersey Turnpike during its landing on Sunday afternoon. The Boeing 767-400, operating as Flight 169 from Venice, Italy, landed safely around 2 p.m. EST and no injuries were reported, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a preliminary statement emailed to Newsweek on Sunday.
In the video, the driver of the Baker's Express Truck can be seen singing to himself moments before the incident. As he drives, the United aircraft's landing tire hits and debris can be seen flying.
Read More
The driver in the clip suffered minor injuries, according to Chuck Paterakis, senior vice president of transportation and logistics at H&S Bakery. "It's a miracle. It could have been traumatically worse," he said, according to NBC 4 New York.
The flight also damaged a light pole on the turnpike below, Port Authority Police told Newsweek in an email, adding the "tractor trailer driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and has since been released."
...
Newark Liberty International Airport is one of the busiest in the nation, and minor landing incidents can trigger broader safety reviews. The incident also raises questions over approach procedures, airport infrastructure, and whether the aircraft’s path or external factors contributed to the strike, and comes in the wake of the deadly crash at LaGuardia Airport in New York that killed two pilots in March.
What To Know
The NTSB has classified the incident as an accident "due to the extent of damage to the airplane." An investigator from the NTSB arrived on site Monday to interview the flight crew, according to a statement from the investigating agency on X.
"The investigation will examine multiple factors, including flight operations, meteorological conditions, human performance, crew resource management, aircraft performance and air traffic control," the statement said.
According to the FAA, the aircraft “struck a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike around 2 p.m. local time" on Sunday, while on approach to Newark.
Port Authority confirmed the incident, telling Newsweek the plane struck an object over the southbound New Jersey Turnpike while on final approach to Runway 29.
Airport crews inspected the runway for debris and quickly resumed normal operations as Port Authority Police and New Jersey State Police responded to the scene.
There were 221 passengers and 10 crew members on board, local outlet WABC reported, citing a statement from United Airlines. A maintenance team is evaluating the aircraft for damage, the report added.
The plane also clipped the bakery truck on the New Jersey Turnpike, striking the driver’s window as the truck exited onto the highway, H&S Bakery executive Chuck Paterakis told Sinclair's National News Desk.
The Schmidt Bakery trailer itself wasn’t damaged, but the impact shattered the cab window.
"To me, that everybody on that plane, everybody and the driver, God was looking after them, there's no doubt," Paterakis told the outlet. "If we did that scenario again, I don't know if anybody could've survived that."
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said in a statement posted on X that it had opened an investigation of the incident. It said an NTSB investigator had directed United to provide the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder for the investigation.
Plane Safety Concerns
Many Americans say they feel more anxious about flying than they once did, although overall incident rates remain low. Viral videos and intense media coverage have amplified those fears, prompting questions about aircraft manufacturing, air traffic control staffing and regulatory oversight.
U.S. aviation officials acknowledge the concern but stress that commercial flying remains one of the safest forms of transport, pointing to decades‑long declines in fatal accidents and the industry’s layered safety systems.
What Happens Next
The FAA will conduct a full investigation, which typically includes reviewing flight‑path data, interviewing the crew, and assessing whether airport infrastructure or external factors played a role.
The NTSB said a preliminary report is expected within 30 days.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines