Copilot warned United 767 was low, slow before Newark light pole strike: NTSB

The copilot of a United Airlines Boeing 767 warned the captain that the aircraft was flying low and slow moments before it struck a light pole on approach to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), sending debris into a tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike, according to a preliminary report released by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The incident happened on May 3, 2026, as United Airlines Flight 169 was arriving at Newark from Venice Marco Polo Airport in Italy.

The Boeing 767-424ER, registered N77066, was operating a scheduled Part 121 international passenger flight with three flight crew members, eight cabin crew members and 220 passengers on board.

No one on the aircraft was injured. The driver of the tractor-trailer sustained minor injuries after debris from the light pole struck the vehicle, the NTSB said.

The aircraft landed on Newark’s Runway 29 and taxied to the gate after the strike, having sustained substantial damage.

According to the preliminary report, the flight crew originally expected to land on Runway 4R. The runway assignment was later changed to Runway 22L and then to Runway 29.

The crew was cleared for the RNAV W Runway 29 approach. The captain was the pilot flying and the first officer was the pilot monitoring.

The captain told investigators the flight was stabilized at 1,000 feet. He disconnected the autopilot and autothrottles at about 880 feet MSL, near the AXELL waypoint.

The captain said that, as the aircraft turned into the headwind, he “got fast” and pulled the power levers back. He told investigators that he later thought the airplane was high and slow, though he continued the approach.

The first officer told investigators the aircraft was on speed and on profile at 500 feet, according to the NTSB report. But as the 767 continued its descent, the first officer noticed the airspeed decaying. He recalled telling the captain, “Hey you are slow,” followed by, “You are still slow and a little low.”

The first officer noted that he later thought the aircraft was low, but because they were about to touch down, he did not process it in time to call for a go-around.

The aircraft struck a light pole before touchdown, the NTSB said. Debris from the pole struck a southbound tractor-trailer on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Weather at Newark at the time included wind from 290 degrees at 19 knots, gusting to 30 knots and 10 miles visibility, according to the report.

The NTSB reported that all three altimeters were set accurately.

Investigators have successfully downloaded the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. As part of the investigation, the NTSB is reviewing CVR, FDR, ADS-B, radar and security video data.

The 767 sustained three punctures in the left lower aft fuselage, along with dents and creases. Investigators also found slash marks on the No. 1 tire on the left main landing gear.

Because the NTSB classified the fuselage damage as substantial, it has officially categorized the incident as an accident.

United has issued an operations alert for EWR arrivals specific to Runway 29 RNAV vertical guidance. It has also issued a pilot bulletin on short-runway landings.

The bulletin warned that “ducking under,” or shifting the aimpoint below electronic or visual glide path indications, can contribute to low approach altitudes during the visual segment.The post Copilot warned United 767 was low, slow before Newark light pole strike: NTSB appeared first on AeroTime.

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