United Airlines Flight Incident at Newark Liberty Airport
In 2023, United Airlines aircraft were observed at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. A significant incident involving a flight from Venice, Italy drew attention due to a near-disaster during landing.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that the captain of the Boeing 767 flew too slow and too low before landing at Newark last month. As a result, the aircraft struck a light pole adjacent to the runway on the New Jersey Turnpike, damaging a tractor-trailer truck. Fortunately, none of the 231 people onboard the jet were injured, though the truck driver sustained minor injuries.
Dashcam footage captured the precarious moment when the plane’s landing gear almost collided with the cab of the truck, followed by the noise of the light pole hitting it.
The preliminary report from the NTSB spans 11 pages and outlines details of the May 3, 2026, accident. The flight from Venice was proceeding normally until the descent stage. Initially, the crew planned to land on runway 4R, but changes led to runway 29 being used instead.
During the approach, the first officer monitored the flight instruments while the captain controlled the aircraft. The report noted that as the plane descended, airspeed began to decline. The first officer acknowledged the slowing speed by warning, “Hey, you are slow, followed by, “You are still slow and a little low.” Despite these warnings, the captain felt confident that the plane was in a safe landing position.
Just before touchdown, the captain reported hearing a “thump,” and the first officer experienced a “mild jolt” near the runway threshold. The plane flew over the turnpike at a mere 19 feet above ground, resulting in three punctures on the fuselage and slash marks on one tire.
United Airlines responded to the incident by reminding pilots landing at Newark to utilize visual glideslope indicators to ensure clearances. When asked for comments, United offered no information about the captain’s current flight status.
Investigations by the NTSB are ongoing with the final report expected within a year.