United Flight Strikes Truck, Light Pole During Newark Landing

May 5, 2026 — A United Airlines Boeing 767 arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Sunday, May 4, 2026, reportedly struck a tractor-trailer and a light pole while on its landing approach, according to dashcam footage and official statements.

United Flight 169, which departed from Venice, Italy, made contact with a Baker's Express truck traveling southbound on the New Jersey Turnpike around 2:00 p.m. In addition to the truck, the aircraft also struck a light pole, which subsequently hit a Jeep. No serious injuries were reported among the 231 passengers and crew aboard the aircraft, nor in the affected vehicles on the ground.

Incident Details Unfold on Turnpike

Video footage captured from inside the Baker's Express truck shows the moment of impact, with debris scattering and glass shattering. The truck, engaged in transporting products from Schmidt Bakery in Baltimore, Maryland, to a distribution center near Newark Airport, sustained damage. Chuck Paterakis, senior vice president of transportation and logistics at H&S Bakery, the parent company of Schmidt Bakery, confirmed that the truck driver sustained minor injuries, including glass fragments in his arm and hand, but is expected to recover fully.

"It's a miracle. It could have been traumatically worse," Paterakis stated, emphasizing the potential severity of the incident.

Investigations Launched by Authorities

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the Boeing 767 landed safely at Newark. Initial reports indicate minor damage to the aircraft. United Airlines has confirmed that the crew of Flight 169 has been removed from active service pending a thorough investigation. "We will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident," United Airlines stated on Sunday evening.

Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated investigations into the event. While no major injuries were reported, the circumstances surrounding an aircraft's contact with ground vehicles on a busy highway during a landing approach are expected to be a key focus of these inquiries.

Prior Incidents at Newark

This incident follows another event at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday, May 3, when a separate United Airlines flight was compelled to declare an emergency due to an unruly passenger. This unrelated occurrence highlights a period of heightened scrutiny for operational events at the busy New Jersey hub.

Further details regarding the ongoing investigations are anticipated as authorities continue to gather information and assess the full scope of the incident.