The initial report of a United Airlines plane striking a light pole as it landed at Newark Liberty International Airport provides new insights. On May 3, 2023, the crew from the Venice flight recalled hearing a loud ‘thump’ and feeling a ‘mild jolt’ before touchdown. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the copilot knew the plane approached low but didn’t react soon enough to abort the landing.
The first officer stated he mentioned to the pilot that the aircraft was slow and somewhat low during descent. However, he did not realize in time to take corrective action. The report doesn’t pinpoint why the plane descended so low or offer preventive measures. These details are expected in the NTSB’s final report, anticipated next year.
It is clarified that the truck hit on the New Jersey Turnpike was struck by debris from the light pole, not the plane itself, causing minor injuries to the truck driver. The truck suffered windshield damage and trailer punctures. The Boeing 767 landed safely despite substantial fuselage damage and slash marks on one landing tire. All 200-plus passengers on board remained uninjured.
The situation is common for drivers near the Newark airport, who often see low-flying planes.
Dashboard camera footage from the truck showed the driver’s reaction before and after the impact. D. Blake Stringer from The Ohio State University’s Center for Aviation Studies noted that the pilot’s shallow approach likely led to infrastructure contact. He indicated pilots should typically steepen their descent if unable to maintain the flight path.
Steve Arroyo, a former United Airlines captain, highlighted the lack of proper preparation for the runway’s unique landing conditions. Although they could have taken more time, the pilots were below the required altitude before crossing the New Jersey Turnpike. Due to strong winds, the landing runway changed thrice, eventually using the airport’s shortest runway as winds gusted to 31 mph (50 kph), adding complications.
The pilot mentioned experiencing fast conditions when steering into the wind just before touchdown, tagged by ‘moderate turbulence’. Despite the challenges, United Airlines opted not to comment on the incident.