United Airlines plane hits bakery truck while landing at Newark Airport in shocking incident
Shocking footage has captured the moment a United Airlines jet hit a bakery truck as it came in to land.
A United Airlines aircraft has struck a bakery truck and a street light during a dramatic landing at a major US airport, with shocking footage capturing the moment of impact.
Flight 169, flying from Venice, Italy, was on approach to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Sunday when the incident occurred.
The Boeing 767 was travelling at more than 257km/h as it crossed over the New Jersey Turnpike just outside the airport, according to flight tracking data from Flightradar24.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.A preliminary investigation indicates part of the aircraft’s landing gear and underside came into contact with roadside infrastructure and a vehicle.
A New Jersey State Police spokesperson, SFC Charles Marchan, said: “collided with a pole and a tractor-trailer. The pole then struck a Jeep,”
“The driver of the tractor-trailer (bakery truck) sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital.”
Inside the bakery truck, dashcam vision shows the driver continuing along the highway as the sound of the approaching jet rapidly intensifies.
Seconds later, the aircraft’s landing gear clips the truck, causing a violent jolt and sending shattered glass across the cabin.
Truck driver Warren Boardley was taken to hospital with minor injuries and later discharged, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed.
He had been en route northbound on the turnpike delivering baked goods to a Newark airport facility when the collision happened.
In the footage he appears to be singing and bopping along to music before looking above just before the plane clipped his vehicle.
Remarkably, no one onboard the United Airlines flight was injured.
Witness Steve Kohnenkam told CNN he was driving nearby when he saw the plane descend unusually low over the roadway.
“I was like, ‘I think I just survived something that was really, really miraculous,’” he said.
“Another two or three feet lower – I would have been toast.”
He described a sudden cloud of debris and a strong smell of burning rubber, calling it “one of the craziest” moments he has ever witnessed.
Another motorist, Patrick Oyulu, said the aircraft appeared to be headed directly toward the truck.
“It was just coming directly in front of the truck … I just saw smoke and debris,” he told the outlet.
“I think (the truck was) trying to evasively manoeuvre out of its way or something, but they were cornered.”
According to LiveATC.net recordings, neither pilots or air traffic controllers initially appeared aware of the collision, with the flight continuing its landing and taxiing normally.
Roughly half an hour later, controllers noted a “hole in the side of the aeroplane” during communications with ground inspection crews.
United Airlines said its maintenance team was assessing the damage, with a full safety investigation underway.
“The aircraft landed safely, taxied to the gate normally and no passengers or crew were injured,” the airline said, confirming the flight crew has been stood down pending review.
