May 4, 2026 — A United Airlines Boeing 767 carrying 221 passengers and 10 crew from Venice, Italy, struck a light pole along the New Jersey Turnpike Sunday while on final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport, authorities said. The Federal Aviation Administration said the aircraft, United Flight 169, landed safely after making contact with the pole. United reported minor damage to the jet and said no passengers or crew were injured.
New Jersey State Police said a landing tire and the underside of the airplane also made contact with a delivery truck on the Turnpike; the struck light pole then hit a Jeep. The truck driver suffered minor injuries, was taken to a hospital and later released, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said. The Port Authority confirmed an object was struck and that the delivery truck was damaged. Airport personnel inspected the runway for debris, noted only minor damage to the aircraft, and resumed normal operations quickly.
United said its maintenance team was evaluating the plane and that the flight crew had been removed from service while the airline conducts a thorough safety review. The National Transportation Safety Board said an investigator would arrive in Newark on Monday and directed United to hand over the cockpit voice and flight data recorders; a preliminary NTSB report is expected within 30 days. Aircraft on final approach to one of Newark’s main runways pass low over several lanes of the Turnpike because the runway begins very close to the highway.