United Airlines jet flew too low and too slow before striking light pole and truck near Newark airport: NTSB

A United Airlines formation was flying excessively debased and excessively dilatory erstwhile it barreled into a airy rod and a tractor-trailer past period conscionable earlier landing astatine Newark Liberty International Airport, the National Transportation Safety Board said.

Flight 169 was traveling from Venice, Italy, to New Jersey erstwhile it struck the rod and a Schmidt Bakery motortruck during its descent astatine astir 2 p.m. connected May 3.

Dashcam video showed the infinitesimal the Boeing 767-400 rider pitchy struck the bakery motortruck connected the New Jersey Turnpike. All 231 unit members and passengers were unharmed, and the level landed safely pursuing the incident.

The motortruck operator sustained insignificant injuries.

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A United Airlines formation struck poles and a motortruck portion trying to onshore astatine Newark Liberty International Airport connected May 3. (iStock)

The craft was descending toward the airdrome erstwhile the unit experienced aggregate runway changes earlier yet being assigned to runway 29, an 11-page preliminary study states. The NTSB noted that the formation was "normal until the descent."

As the level neared the runway, its airspeed began to decay, prompting the archetypal serviceman to pass the skipper that the craft was "still dilatory and a small low."

The airplane descended dangerously low, reaching conscionable 18 to 19 feet supra crushed level arsenic it crossed implicit the Turnpike. It past struck a 15-foot-tall airy rod connected the turnpike conscionable seconds earlier landing, the study said.

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Surveillance footage shows a United Airlines level clipping a tractor trailer during its attack astatine Newark Liberty International Airport connected May 3, 2026. (Obtained by WBFF)

The skipper reported proceeding a "thump," portion formation attendants successful the backmost heard a "loud bang" conscionable earlier touchdown.

After the level parked astatine the gate, an onsite introspection revealed 3 punctures to the little near aft fuselage and slash marks connected 1 tire, the study states.

Surveillance footage shows a United Airlines level clipping a tractor trailer during its attack astatine Newark Liberty International Airport connected May 3, 2026. (Obtained by WBFF)

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When asked astir the report, a United spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "We don't person thing to share."

Following the accident, United Airlines issued a information alert explicitly informing pilots astir utilizing ocular glideslope indicators—the lighting systems designed to supply ocular guidance during attack and landing to fto pilots cognize if they are flying excessively precocious oregon excessively debased on their descent path.