United Flight 169, a Boeing 767 from Venice, struck a light pole and bakery tractor-trailer on the NJ Turnpike during landing at Newark, injuring the truck driver.
Key Takeaways
Runway 29 at EWR starts under 400 feet from the NJ Turnpike; planes cross at low altitude and high speed regularly under certain wind conditions.
The 767 was traveling over 160 mph when its landing gear tires struck the truck; dashcam footage captured the impact and flying glass.
Pilots and ATC were unaware of the collision at landing; the plane taxied normally to the gate before a hole in the fuselage was reported ~30 minutes later.
NTSB is sending an investigator and will analyze the CVR and FDR; the flight crew has been removed from service pending investigation.
Truck driver Warren Boardley, delivering bread for Schmidt Bakery, suffered non-life-threatening cuts from broken glass and was expected to be released same day.
Hacker News Comment Review
Commenters flagged Newark’s approach geometry as a known hazard, with one describing a personal go-around after breaking through clouds at dangerously low altitude over a warehouse roof on approach to EWR.
Discussion linked to AVHerald for detailed incident tracking, suggesting the technical aviation community will monitor this for maintenance and regulatory follow-up.
