United flight struck NJ Turnpike light pole 15 feet above road, NTSB says

United Flight 169 descended within 15 feet of the New Jersey Turnpike during its approach to Newark Liberty International Airport on May 3, striking a light pole that collapsed onto a bakery delivery truck traveling below and injuring the driver, the National Transportation Safety Board said.

The Boeing 767, carrying more than 230 passengers and crew on an international flight from Venice, Italy, has not flown since the incident. The NTSB's findings have intensified scrutiny of approach procedures and runway assignments at one of the nation's busiest airports.

The Boeing 767 arrived from Venice, Italy with more than 230 passengers and crew aboard when it descended to approximately 15 feet above the New Jersey Turnpike on approach to Newark Liberty International Airport, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a report released Thursday. The aircraft struck a light pole along the turnpike, which then fell onto a bakery delivery truck below.

During the descent, the first officer warned the captain that the aircraft was dangerously slow and low. "You are still slow and a little low," the first officer said, according to the NTSB. The captain, who was flying the aircraft manually at the time, told investigators he heard a thump before touchdown — which NTSB investigators believe corresponds to the moment the aircraft struck the pole.

The bakery delivery truck driver was injured when the pole struck his vehicle. The driver's father spoke out in the days after the accident, expressing shock that his son had survived. "Imagine that, struck by a plane, generally nobody walks away from a plane crash, nobody," the father said.

The NTSB report identified multiple last-minute runway changes as a contributing factor. Pilots received several runway reassignments in the final minutes of descent while contending with strong winds and were ultimately directed to land on Newark's shortest runway, according to the report. The Boeing 767 sustained substantial damage, including a gash in the fuselage, and has remained grounded since the incident.

An aviation expert said the findings would prompt the NTSB to examine approach protocols at the airport closely. "The NTSB is going to want to go back and say what is it about this approach, this runway, how can we take out the possibility of error that almost led to tragedy in this case," the expert said.

Passengers aboard the flight deplaned normally after landing, with no injuries reported among those on board. The NTSB's investigation into contributing factors and runway safety procedures at Newark Liberty International Airport remains ongoing.