Pole Strike Near Newark: United 169 Lands Safely as Truck Driver Is Hospitalized

A United Airlines Boeing 767-400 from Venice to Newark struck a light pole over the New Jersey Turnpike during final approach to Runway 29 at Newark Liberty International Airport. The aircraft landed safely with 221 passengers and 10 crew aboard; the pole and a passing tractor-trailer were damaged, and the truck driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was hospitalized before being released. United said it would conduct a flight-safety investigation and removed the crew from service, while FAA and state police investigated; runway inspections were conducted and normal operations resumed.