United flight landing in Newark strikes pole on New Jersey Turnpike, damages delivery truck

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Federal authorities are investigating after a United Airlines passenger jet landing Sunday at Newark Liberty International Airport struck a light pole on the adjacent New Jersey Turnpike.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the incident involving United Airlines Flight 169 happened Sunday afternoon. The Boeing 767 aircraft landed safely, arriving from Venice, Italy, according to the FAA.

The airline said in a subsequent statement that United flight 169 “came into contact with a light pole” on its final approach to Newark. Officials with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport, confirmed that an object was struck and that a delivery truck traveling on the turnpike at the time also was damaged.

The driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and was released, the port authority said. Minor damage to the aircraft was observed, airport staff inspected the runway for debris and normal operations were quickly resumed, according to the port authority.

United said its maintenance team was evaluating damage to the aircraft and that the crew was removed from service while it conducts a “rigorous” flight safety investigation.

The National Transportation Safety Board opened an investigation of the incident, saying an NTSB investigator would arrive in Newark on Monday and that it had directed United to provide the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder for the investigation.

A preliminary report was expected within 30 days, the NTSB said.