United Airlines Boeing 767 strikes truck and light pole on NJ Turnpike

How a Boeing 767 Came Within Feet of a Highway

Dashcam footage from the struck truck shows the moment the plane’s landing gear wheel appeared outside the driver’s window. The truck, en route to Smith’s Bakery depot in Newark, was traveling south on the Turnpike when the Boeing 767—on its final approach to Runway 29—descended too low. A tire from the plane’s landing gear and the underside of the aircraft hit both the light pole and the tractor-trailer, according to New Jersey State Police. The pole also struck a Jeep traveling on the turnpike, adding to the scene’s chaos.

The driver, Warren Boardley, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries caused by broken glass in his arm and hand, but the trailer and its bread products remained undamaged. Chuck Paterakis, senior vice president of transportation and logistics at Baltimore-based H&S Bakery, described the moment as a near-miss. Everybody, the driver and everybody on the plane, should be very fortunate, Paterakis said. Because it could have been the opposite of what happened, and a little help from God went a long way tonight for everybody on the plane, and including the driver.

The incident occurred just after 2 p.m., with the plane landing safely and taxiing to the gate normally. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that runway inspections were conducted immediately, and normal operations were quickly resumed. The narrow margin between a minor incident and a major catastrophe has investigators asking how such a strike could have occurred, leading to a detailed review of the flight’s final approach path and altitude readings.

The Descent: Venice to Newark, a Flight Almost Gone Wrong

Flight UA169 departed Venice Marco Polo Airport at approximately 11:05 a.m. local time, arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport just after 2 p.m. on May 3. The Boeing 767, operated by United Airlines, was on its final approach to Runway 29 when it struck the light pole and truck. According to Newark approach charts, standard landing altitudes for Runway 29 are carefully calibrated to ensure aircraft remain above ground infrastructure during descent.

However, the exact altitude at which the plane descended remains under investigation. The FAA and NTSB are examining factors such as wind conditions, potential loss of situational awareness in the cockpit, and whether any technical or procedural issues contributed to the plane’s low descent. Kris Van Cleave, CBS News senior transportation correspondent, highlighted the critical questions investigators will need to answer:

The question investigators are going to want to understand is, how did that happen? Why was the plane too low? Did wind factor into this? Was there a loss of situational awareness in the cockpit? What were the factors that contributed to allowing this airplane to be too low and no one catch it before this happened?

United Airlines has already begun its own investigation, removing the flight crew from service as part of the process. The airline stated in a release:

Upon its final approach into Newark International Airport, United flight 169 came into contact with a light pole. The aircraft landed safely, taxied to the gate normally and no passengers or crew were injured. Our maintenance team is evaluating damage to the aircraft and we will investigate how this occurred.

Ground-Level Impact: The Truck Driver’s Story

The tractor-trailer involved in the incident was operated by Baker’s Express, a division of H&S Family of Bakeries, and was en route to deliver bread products to a Newark airport depot. Paterakis described the moment of impact, stating that the driver experienced the tires of the commercial aircraft landing on or brushing the top of the tractor.

Dashcam footage from the truck captures the moment the plane’s landing gear wheel appears outside the driver’s window, providing a stark visual of how close the aircraft came to a catastrophic collision. The driver, Warren Boardley, was able to safely pull over after the strike and contact his employer. Paterakis emphasized the specifics of the contact, noting that the trailer itself was not damaged and the bread products inside remained untouched.

Boardley’s injuries, though minor, underscore the nature of the incident. The truck driver was able to navigate the aftermath of the strike, and the FAA and NTSB are now conducting a detailed investigation into the specific circumstances of the collision to determine the exact sequence of events that led to the aircraft making contact with the vehicle.

What’s Next: Investigation and Safety Measures

The FAA and NTSB are leading a rigorous investigation into the incident, with a focus on understanding how the plane descended below safe altitudes. The inquiry will likely examine the flight crew’s actions, aircraft systems, and weather conditions at the time of the incident. United Airlines has already begun its own internal review, with the crew involved in the incident removed from service pending the outcome of the investigation.

While the immediate aftermath of the incident saw no serious injuries or fatalities, the event highlights the continued importance of strict adherence to safety protocols. The agency’s guidelines emphasize the importance of reporting and investigating such incidents to prevent future occurrences, focusing on the coordination between air traffic control and flight crews to ensure altitude margins are maintained.

For now, the focus remains on the investigation and the data that can be gathered from this near-miss. The FAA and NTSB will determine whether any changes to safety protocols or training are necessary to prevent similar incidents in the future as they analyze the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder to reconstruct the descent.

In the meantime, the truck driver, Warren Boardley, and the passengers on Flight UA169 arrived safely. As Paterakis noted, a little help from God went a long way tonight for everybody on the plane, and including the driver. The investigation into how this incident occurred will provide the necessary data to improve safety margins and operational procedures for future flights.

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