A United Airlines Boeing 767-400 operating as Flight 169 from Venice, Italy, struck a vehicle and a light post on an adjacent highway while on final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday, U.S. aviation authorities said.
The impact occurred on the New Jersey Turnpike at about 2 p.m. local time, according to statements from the Federal Aviation Administration. The aircraft continued and landed safely; there were no reported injuries among the 221 passengers and 10 crew members on board.
Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have opened inquiries into the incident. Investigators will review the circumstances surrounding the contact between the arriving airplane and objects on the adjacent roadway.
The carrier confirmed that maintenance personnel are conducting an inspection of the aircraft to assess any potential damage. In a statement the airline said the flight crew has been removed from duty while the company performs its internal review and that it "will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation."
Operational details released publicly are limited to the facts of the occurrence: the flight origin, the aircraft type, passenger and crew counts, location of the contact, the time of day, and the status of investigations and inspections. No injuries have been reported and the aircraft completed its landing at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Regulatory oversight by the FAA and follow-up investigation by the NTSB are now under way. Airline maintenance teams are examining the Boeing 767-400 to determine whether the aircraft sustained damage that requires repair or further action before it can be returned to service.
As the official inquiries proceed, the available public information remains limited to the items released by the airline and federal authorities: the flight number and origin, the nature of the contact with a vehicle and a light post on the New Jersey Turnpike, the safe landing, the absence of injuries, and the removal of the crew from duty pending investigation.
Key facts:
- Flight: United Flight 169, originating from Venice, Italy.
- Aircraft: Boeing 767-400 carrying 221 passengers and 10 crew members.
- Location of contact: New Jersey Turnpike near Newark Liberty International Airport, around 2 p.m. local time on Sunday.
- Authorities involved: Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.