United Airlines Incident at Newark Liberty International Airport

In 2023, United Airlines aircraft are pictured at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released findings on a recent incident involving a United Airlines flight from Venice, Italy. The captain piloted the Boeing 767 at a dangerously low and slow speed before landing.

The aircraft struck a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike next to the runway, which resulted in damages to a tractor-trailer truck. The driver of the truck experienced minor injuries, but all 231 passengers on the aircraft remained unharmed. Dashcam footage captured the plane flying over the truck, with the plane’s landing gear narrowly missing the truck’s cab. A resulting impact sound was heard when the light pole collided with the truck.

The preliminary NTSB report, spanning 11 pages, details the May 3, 2026 accident. According to the report, the flight progressed normally until the descent phase. Initially set to land on runway 4R, last-minute changes redirected the plane to a different runway, and then again to runway 29.

During the turbulent approach, the captain piloted the aircraft with the first officer focused on monitoring flight instruments. An NTSB statement revealed, “As they descended, the airspeed began to decay.” The first officer reportedly informed the captain, “hey you are slow,” and later added, “you are still slow and a little low.” The captain acknowledged hearing “airspeed slow,” yet believed the aircraft’s position was safe for landing.

Investigations discovered the captain “heard a thump” just prior to touchdown, and the first officer perceived a “mild jolt” near the runway threshold. The aircraft passed over the turnpike at a mere 19 feet above ground level. Post-parking assessments at the gate revealed three punctures in the fuselage and slash marks on a landing gear tire.

Following the incident, United Airlines reminded pilots to utilize the visual glideslope indicators near the runway to ensure safe landing clearances at Newark. A United spokesperson refrained from commenting on the NTSB’s findings or the captain’s current flight status, saying, “We don’t have anything to share.” The final investigation report from the NTSB is anticipated within a year.