United Airlines flight was 19 feet above highway when it struck a pole as it was landing at Newark last month, NTSB says
A United Airlines flight that struck a light pole while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport was just 19 feet above the center of the New Jersey Turnpike moments before touchdown, according to a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report released Thursday.
Flight data shows United Flight 169, arriving in May from Venice, Italy, stayed below the normal glide path for about the final three-quarters of a mile before the runway. The aircraft crossed over the New Jersey Turnpike on approach at more than 160 miles per hour, according to FlightRadar24, when a landing gear tire and the underside of the plane struck a pole.
New Jersey State Police initially said the plane hit a tractor-trailer, but the NTSB found the damage was actually caused by debris from the pole. Investigators found no tire marks on the truck. The driver suffered non-life-threatening injuries. A Jeep was also struck by the pole.
On May 3, while preparing to land, the captain said he turned off autopilot and auto-throttles, noted he “got fast” in a headwind, and then pulled the power levers back to stabilize airspeed as wind gusts caused “moderate turbulence,” the report said. The first officer warned the aircraft was “slow” and “a little low” on approach.
During landing, the captain reported a “thump,” the first officer felt a “mild jolt,” and flight attendants heard a “loud bang.” There were more than 200 passengers and 11 crew members onboard the Boeing 767. No one was injured and the plane landed normally.
NTSB inspectors found three punctures on the lower left rear fuselage affecting all three structural elements, calling the damage “substantial.” They also found slashes in one tire. Investigators said pilots and air traffic control did not appear aware the plane had struck the pole, based on LiveATC recordings.
The aircraft was using Runway 29, which begins less than 400 feet from the New Jersey Turnpike and can bring aircraft very low over the highway when wind conditions require it.
The NTSB investigation is ongoing, with a final report pending.
