The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has initiated an inquiry following an incident involving a United Airlines aircraft that struck a light pole and a truck while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday. The Boeing 767-400 passenger jet, arriving from Venice, Italy, was in the process of landing when the collision occurred.
### Incident Details
Dashcam footage has surfaced, capturing the moment the aircraft impacted the truck, which was traveling on the New Jersey Turnpike, a heavily trafficked highway. According to New Jersey State Police, as the plane made its descent, one of the landing tires and the aircraft’s underside collided with a pole before striking the tractor-trailer. The pole subsequently struck a nearby Jeep. Fortunately, the driver of the truck sustained only minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital before being released.
Flight 169 was carrying 221 passengers along with 10 crew members, none of whom suffered injuries from the incident. United Airlines has confirmed that their maintenance team is currently assessing damage to the aircraft.
### NTSB Investigation Underway
The NTSB has dispatched an investigator to Newark and has requested that United Airlines submit the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder as part of their investigation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the importance of addressing such occurrences, expressing concern that “this is unacceptable.” He stated, “We have really well-trained pilots. This should never happen in America. An incident like this, we study and we learn from, and we take action on. That’s why America is the safest place to fly.”
United Airlines has indicated that it will conduct a thorough internal investigation of the incident, ensuring compliance with safety protocols. “Our crew has been removed from service as part of the process,” a spokesperson said. The NTSB’s ongoing investigation aims to determine the precise cause of the incident and to implement measures that could prevent similar events in the future.
This unfortunate occurrence underscores the inherent risks of aviation, even as air travel continues to be one of the safest forms of transportation. The fact that the incident took place over a major road raises questions about airport approach safety and air traffic control procedures.
As details continue to emerge, stakeholders in the aviation industry and the public await a comprehensive analysis from the NTSB to ensure that such incidents are effectively addressed and mitigated moving forward.
Source reference: Full report
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