A recent report has shed light on an incident involving a United Airlines flight at Newark Liberty International Airport. The pilot reportedly heard a “thump” while landing, unaware the plane had hit a light pole. This pole subsequently fell onto a tractor-trailer, causing injury to its driver.
A National Transportation Safety Board report detailed the events of that flight. The co-pilot warned the lead pilot that the plane was “still slow and a little low” as they descended over the New Jersey Turnpike. This happened on a Sunday afternoon amid gusty wind conditions.
The Boeing 767, carrying 220 passengers from Venice, had to change its approach route to land into the wind. This maneuver placed the plane’s path over a runway adjacent to the turnpike’s southbound side, where the 15-foot-tall light pole was struck.
No passengers or any of the plane’s 11 crew members suffered injuries. However, the plane itself did sustain substantial damage. Three punctures affected the fuselage, with one being nearly four feet long. Slash marks were also discovered on a landing gear tire on the plane’s left side.
The truck, which was delivering bread and rolls, experienced significant damage. It developed large holes in its windshield, and its trailer took on a major puncture. The report found no tire marks on either the tractor cab or the trailer.
The truck driver, Warren Boardley, received treatment at a hospital for minor injuries before being released. Attempts to contact Northeast Foods, Mr. Boardley’s employer, and his lawyer, J. Wyndal Gordon, went unanswered.
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