United plane’s strike on truck, light pole at Newark classified as accident

Federal investigators have classified a United Airlines landing incident at Newark Liberty International Airport as an accident after the plane struck a truck and a light pole while approaching the runway. No passengers or crew members were injured, but the truck driver suffered minor injuries.

The incident happened at about 2 p.m. on Sunday as United Airlines Flight 169, a Boeing 767 arriving from Venice, Italy, was on final approach to Runway 29 at Newark, according to the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

In an update Monday, the NTSB classified the collision as an accident due to the extent of damage to the airplane. An investigator arrived in Newark on Monday morning to interview the flight crew.

New Jersey State Police confirmed that the bottom of the plane and one of its landing gear tires collided with the light pole and a truck along the New Jersey Turnpike.

The truck, which was hauling products from Schmidt Baking Company, was traveling on the turnpike when it was hit. The National News Desk reported that one of the aircraft’s wheels struck the driver’s-side window.

The truck driver was taken to a hospital with small cuts, according to officials.

United said the aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate normally. There were 221 passengers and 10 crew members on board.

The NTSB said the investigation will examine flight operations, weather conditions, human performance, crew resource management, aircraft performance and air traffic control.