Newark, NJ — A Baltimore bakery truck driver suffered injuries when a United Airlines jet clipped his vehicle during landing Sunday near Newark Liberty International Airport, sending glass into the cab as the plane descended with 231 people onboard. United Flight 169, arriving from Venice, struck a light pole and the tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike before landing safely, leaving passengers unharmed but raising questions about how the aircraft came so close to ground traffic.
Warren Boardley, driving for H&S Family of Bakeries/Schmidt Bakery, pulled over after the impact and was later treated for minor arm injuries caused by shattered glass. The aircraft, a Boeing 767-400 carrying 221 passengers and 10 crew members, continued its approach despite damage to its landing gear.
A video of the incident has been widely shared on X.
Sudden impact during final approach
The collision happened just outside the airport perimeter as the aircraft descended toward the runway. According to New Jersey State Police and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the plane’s landing gear struck both a light pole and the passing truck on the Turnpike below.
Boardley had been traveling from Baltimore to New Jersey when the aircraft passed overhead at an unusually low altitude. Senior vice president of Transportation & Logistics at H&S Bakery, Chuck Paterakis, confirmed the driver’s route and said the company is cooperating with investigators.
Dashcam footage from the truck, later shared on social media, shows the moment the aircraft’s tires appear to make contact with the vehicle, underscoring how narrowly the incident avoided a more serious outcome.
Passengers unaware until after landing
Despite the midair contact, the flight landed without further incident at Newark Liberty International Airport. Passengers onboard reportedly did not realize anything unusual had occurred until after the aircraft reached the gate.
United Airlines said its maintenance team is now assessing the damage and reviewing the circumstances surrounding the approach.
“Our maintenance team is evaluating damage to the aircraft and we will investigate how this occurred,” a United spokesperson said.
Governor Mikie Sherrill confirmed she had been briefed on the incident and emphasized the safe outcome for those onboard.
“I’m grateful the aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew are unharmed,” Sherrill said in a statement posted Sunday. “Initial reports indicate that a truck on the Turnpike may also have been involved, and we will continue to monitor developments.”
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Key Points
• United Flight 169 struck a truck and light pole while landing near Newark on Sunday
• Truck driver Warren Boardley suffered minor injuries from shattered glass
• Plane landed safely with 231 people onboard; investigation underway
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Investigation focuses on approach path
Authorities from the Port Authority and New Jersey State Police are leading the investigation, focusing on how the aircraft’s landing path intersected with roadway traffic outside the secured airport boundary.
The location of the impact — beyond the immediate runway area — introduces complex questions about altitude, approach alignment, and whether any environmental or mechanical factors contributed to the incident.
While aircraft frequently pass over highways during landing approaches, direct contact with ground vehicles is extremely rare. The presence of the light pole, which was also struck, may provide additional clues about the plane’s altitude and trajectory in its final moments before touchdown.
A routine route with an unusual outcome
United Flight 169 regularly operates long-haul service between Venice, Italy, and Newark, a major international gateway. Sunday’s flight followed that routine route until its final minutes, when the unexpected collision disrupted an otherwise standard arrival.
The contrast between the ordinary setting — a commercial truck traveling along one of the region’s busiest highways — and the scale of the aircraft overhead highlights how narrowly the situation avoided a more severe outcome.
Boardley’s ability to maintain control of the truck and safely pull over after the impact likely prevented further danger to other drivers on the Turnpike.
What happens next
Investigators will review flight data, maintenance records, and air traffic control communications to determine exactly how the aircraft came into contact with objects on the ground.
The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to play a role in the review, though officials have not yet released detailed findings.
For now, the aircraft remains under inspection, the truck driver has been treated and released, and officials continue piecing together how a transatlantic flight and a highway delivery route intersected in a matter of seconds.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities working to determine the cause and whether any procedural or safety changes are needed.
