A United Airlines Boeing 767 landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday struck a streetlight pole and a tractor-trailer on a nearby highway, but the plane landed safely and taxied to the gate normally, according to United and investigators. [1]
There were more than 200 passengers and 10 crew members on board, and none of them were injured, United said. The company said, "The aircraft landed safely, taxied to the gate normally and no passengers or crew were injured." [1]
The truck driver, Warren Boardley of Baltimore, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, New Jersey State Police said. Spokesman SFC Charles Marchan said, "The driver of the tractor-trailer sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital." [1]
The flight came in from Venice, Italy, and investigators said a preliminary review indicated the plane’s landing gear tire and underside first struck the pole and tractor-trailer, setting off the crash sequence. The streetlight pole then hit a Jeep after the initial collision. [1]
Dashcam video showed the truck driver singing seconds before impact, and air traffic control recordings suggested controllers and pilots were not immediately aware the plane had hit the pole. The truck was heading north on the turnpike to deliver bread products to a Newark airport depot. [1]
The airline has removed the plane’s crew from service pending the investigation. About 30 minutes after landing, air traffic control told an operations vehicle inspecting the runway that there was a hole in the side of the airplane. [1]
