United Airlines Boeing 767 jet hits light pole, truck while landing at Newark

Lead

A United Airlines Boeing 767 struck a light pole and a delivery truck while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday afternoon, according to multiple reports. The flight, which arrived from Venice, Italy, landed safely, and no injuries were reported among the 231 passengers and crew members onboard, as reported by the BBC and other outlets.

The truck driver sustained minor injuries and was treated at a hospital before being released, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, as cited in several reports.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the incident varied in emphasis and detail. The BBC and the South China Morning Post focused on the safe landing and the lack of injuries to those aboard the aircraft, citing official sources. The Guardian provided a more detailed account, including the driver's name and the sequence of events, with a tone that highlighted the driver's fortunate escape. TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported the basic facts, noting the FAA's involvement and the safe landing.

Key Claims

• The plane struck a light pole and a delivery truck on the New Jersey Turnpike during its approach to Newark, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and reported by multiple sources.
• The aircraft, a Boeing 767, landed safely. No injuries were reported among passengers and crew, per the BBC and the South China Morning Post.
• The truck driver, identified by The Guardian as Warren Boardley, sustained minor injuries, described as cuts from broken glass, and was treated and released from a hospital.
• The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident, and the FAA has also announced its own investigation, as reported by several outlets.
• The incident occurred around 2pm local time on Sunday, May 3, according to an FAA statement quoted by the South China Morning Post.
• The plane caused damage to a light post and a tractor trailer traveling south on the NJ Turnpike, according to the Port Authority, as quoted by the South China Morning Post.

Perspectives

The Guardian's reporting highlighted the perspective of the truck driver, Warren Boardley, who was driving for H&S Family of Bakeries. Chuck Paterakis, the vice-president of transportation for the bakery, told WABC-TV that both the driver and those on the plane were fortunate, saying, "because it could have been the opposite of what happened, and a little help from God went a long way tonight for everybody on the plane, and including the driver." This viewpoint underscores the potential severity of the incident.

Other outlets, including the BBC and TASS, emphasized the safe landing and the lack of harm to passengers, aligning with official statements from United Airlines and the FAA. The focus was on the effectiveness of the landing despite the collision, and the ongoing investigations.

While the investigation is in its early stages, the FAA has ordered United Airlines to provide the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder, as reported by the BBC, to aid in determining the cause of the incident.