Video shows United flight striking light pole, truck on New Jersey turnpike before landing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmmF8-nnUWM

A newly circulated video shows the moment a United Airlines passenger jet struck a light pole and collided with a truck on the New Jersey Turnpike while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport, an incident that is now under federal investigation.

The flight, United Airlines Flight 169 from Venice, Italy, was in its final descent when it flew unusually low over the highway near the airport runway.

What the video shows

Footage shared from dashcams and roadside cameras captures:

• The aircraft descending extremely low over the Turnpike

• A sudden impact as the plane’s landing gear or underside makes contact with a light pole

• The pole snapping and falling toward traffic

• A simultaneous or secondary impact involving a tractor-trailer on the highway

Investigators say the proximity of the runway to the highway means aircraft routinely pass very low over vehicles before landing, but this descent resulted in contact with both infrastructure and traffic.

What happened during the landing

According to officials:

• The plane was on final approach to Newark Airport’s Runway 29

• It struck a light pole along the Turnpike during descent

• The impact also involved a tractor-trailer on the roadway

• The falling pole then struck a nearby vehicle (reported as a Jeep in some accounts)

Despite the incident, the aircraft successfully landed and taxied to the gate without further issue.

Injuries and damage

Authorities confirmed:

• No injuries among the 221 passengers and 10 crew members on board

• The truck driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries and later released

• Minor damage occurred to the aircraft

• The highway and runway were briefly inspected before normal operations resumed

Investigations underway

The incident is now being reviewed by:

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

United Airlines has stated it has:

• Removed the flight crew from duty pending review

• Begun a maintenance and safety inspection of the aircraft

• Launched an internal investigation into the approach and landing sequence

Why the incident is notable

This event has drawn attention because:

• The runway at Newark sits extremely close to a major highway

• Aircraft pass at very low altitude over moving traffic during landing

• The combination of aviation and highway proximity created a rare and dangerous overlap

Experts say while low approaches over the Turnpike are normal, direct contact with both a light pole and a vehicle is highly unusual.

Bottom line

The video highlights how close the United flight came to a ground-level collision during landing at Newark Airport. While no passengers were hurt, the incident has triggered a full investigation into approach procedures, airspace clearance, and airport infrastructure near one of the busiest corridors in New Jersey.