United jet strikes truck & light pole while approaching Newark airport

U.S. authorities are investigating an incident in which a United Airlines aircraft hit a light pole and a truck while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday afternoon (May 3), reports say.

Dashcam footage from the truck, shared by CBS News, captures the instant it is hit by Flight UA169, a Boeing 767 that departed Venice with 221 passengers and 10 crew members on board.

The New Jersey State Police said early findings suggest a tire from the aircraft’s landing gear, along with part of the plane’s underside, struck both a light pole and a tractor-trailer.

The pole then also hit a passing Jeep on the turnpike, reports say.

The truck, which was headed to a bakery depot in Newark, had been preparing to exit the highway when it was struck.

The driver, identified as Warren Boardley, was reportedly taken to hospital with minor injuries and later released, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also investigating the incident. Reports say the plane landed safely.

"Our maintenance team is evaluating damage to the aircraft," a United spokesperson told Reuters. "We will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident and our crew has been removed from service as part of the process."

Airport ⁠inspected the runway for debris and normal operations quickly resumed, a spokesperson said.

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