The National Transportation Safety Board has opened a formal investigation into a United Airlines flight that struck a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday.
United Airlines Flight 169, a Boeing 767-400 arriving from Venice, Italy, hit the pole on the highway during its descent in the early afternoon, according to the NTSB. The agency announced the probe in a post on the social platform X on Sunday, noting that the aircraft landed safely despite the collision.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the incident in a statement, saying the flight "struck a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike" and that it would also conduct its own investigation. The FAA stressed that the plane "landed safely."
United Airlines issued a statement late Sunday saying that Flight 169 "taxied to the gate normally" and that "no passengers or crew were injured." The carrier added that its maintenance team is assessing damage to the aircraft and that the crew has been removed from duty as part of a "rigorous flight safety investigation."
Reports indicate that a truck traveling on the highway was struck by debris from the pole, sending the driver to a hospital with minor injuries.
This incident follows another recent safety event involving United. Last week, United Flight 1980 reported a possible midair collision with a drone while approaching San Diego. The airline said that flight landed safely and that an inspection found no damage.
The NTSB's investigation into the Newark incident will focus on the circumstances of the pole strike, including whether any air traffic control or pilot errors contributed. The agency has also been probing other recent aviation incidents, such as the crash of a small plane in Hays County, Texas, that killed five people. That investigation is ongoing.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about aviation safety and infrastructure, as well as the potential risks posed by foreign object debris near airports. The FAA and NTSB will coordinate their probes to determine the root cause and recommend any necessary changes.
