United Airlines Jet Incident at Newark Under Investigation

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released an initial report on a recent incident involving a United Airlines flight landing at Newark Liberty International Airport. The May 3 flight from Venice, Italy, encountered a mishap as it landed.

The copilot on the Boeing 767 noted the aircraft was descending low but did not respond in time to abort the landing. As the plane approached the runway, the crew reported hearing a loud ‘thump’ and experiencing a ‘mild jolt.’ Debris from a struck light pole hit a truck on the New Jersey Turnpike, but it wasn’t the plane itself that caused this.

The report clarifies law enforcement’s initial statement. It shows that the truck’s windshield and trailer suffered damage, but there were no tire marks. Fortunately, no injuries occurred among the over 200 passengers and crew on board, despite substantial damage to the plane’s fuselage and tire slash marks.

D. Blake Stringer, director of The Ohio State University’s Center for Aviation Studies, commented on the situation. He mentioned that the shallow approach taken by the pilot deviated from the standard descent angle, which could explain the low altitude upon landing.

Steve Arroyo, a retired United Airlines captain, emphasized the importance of proper runway preparation. The crew faced a challenging situation with rapid runway assignment changes. Strong winds, gusting up to 31 mph, further complicated the descent.

An air traffic controller had informed the pilots of the wind conditions. Jeff Guzzetti, an aviation safety expert, noted moderate turbulence and control adjustments during the final approach.

Despite these challenges, the flight concluded safely, though with substantial aircraft damage. The final NTSB report, expected next year, will likely provide insights and recommendations.

United Airlines has not commented on the ongoing investigation.