Dramatic image shows moment a United 767 hit truck on approach to Newark Airport

A newly surfaced airport security camera image appears to show the moment a United Airlines Boeing 767-400 hit a tractor-trailer while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on May 3, 2026.

The image captures United Flight 169 seconds before touchdown, with the widebody jet descending over the New Jersey Turnpike and its landing gear directly above the roof of the truck.

The aircraft was arriving from Venice, Italy, with 221 passengers and 10 crew members when it struck a light pole and hit the truck during final approach to EWR’s Runway 29, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), United Airlines and local reporting.

The aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate. United said no passengers or crew members were injured.The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has since classified the occurrence as an accident because of the extent of damage to the airplane, and an investigator has arrived in Newark to conduct interviews with the flight crew, according to the agency.

The security camera image shows the aircraft crossing the Turnpike at very low altitude, with vehicles, highway barriers and airport infrastructure visible beneath it. From the camera angle, the aircraft’s main landing gear appears to be at or near the top of the truck as it passed over the roadway.

Separate video from inside the truck captured the moment of contact, showing what appears to be a firm and violent impact with the vehicle. In still frames from that video, what appears to be the United jetliner’s landing gear can be seen outside the truck’s left-side window.

Driver video still imageAuthorities have not publicly authenticated the security camera image. It appears consistent, however, with official and local accounts of the incident.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed the aircraft struck the light pole on the Turnpike, causing damage to the pole, the tractor-trailer and the aircraft. The pole reportedly also struck another vehicle on the highway.

New Jersey State Police said a tire from the aircraft’s landing gear and part of the underside of the aircraft hit the tractor-trailer and the light pole, according to local reporting.

The truck driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Local reports said the truck was carrying bread products and that the driver suffered cuts from broken glass to his arm.

The FAA said the incident happened around 14:00 local time.

The NTSB has directed United to provide the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.

The 767 was performing a circling visual approach to Runway 29 when it crossed the Turnpike about 720 feet before the runway threshold, according to the FAA. The tower reported winds from 320 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 24 knots, according to the report.

After landing, the flight crew reported feeling something near the runway threshold, and damage included a hole in the side of the aircraft.

United said its maintenance team was evaluating damage to the aircraft. The airline also said the crew had been removed from duty while it conducts an investigation.

Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 identified the aircraft as N77066, a Boeing 767-400ER.

Runway 29’s approach path crosses near the New Jersey Turnpike, where arriving aircraft can appear unusually low before crossing the runway threshold.

Airport staff inspected the runway for debris after the incident, and normal operations resumed, according to the Port Authority.The post Dramatic image shows moment a United 767 hit truck on approach to Newark Airport appeared first on AeroTime.

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