A United Airlines jet clipped a light pole and a semi-truck on the New Jersey Turnpike while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport [1].
The incident highlights a critical failure in altitude management during the final approach, illustrating how a brief lapse in flight path precision can lead to a collision with ground infrastructure on a busy highway.
According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board, the aircraft was flying lower than intended during its descent in May 2024 [2]. Data indicates the aircraft was only 19 feet above the Turnpike at the moment of impact [3]. The jet struck the light pole and the truck just seconds before the wheels touched down on the runway [4].
"I heard a thump just before touchdown," the captain of the United flight said [5].
The flight crew acknowledged the danger shortly before the collision. The copilot said the copilot realized the flight was low, but they did not have enough time to correct it [2]. Surveillance video of the event shows the jet clipping the pole and the semi-truck on the I-95 corridor [4].
Investigators are focusing on why the aircraft descended below the safe glide slope. The New Jersey Turnpike sits directly beneath the approach path for the airport, meaning any significant deviation in altitude poses an immediate risk to motorists, and infrastructure [1].
No injuries were reported in the dossier regarding the crew or the occupants of the truck. The aircraft continued to its landing after the collision [1].
“"I heard a thump just before touchdown."”
This incident underscores the narrow margins of safety for airports located near major transit arteries. When a commercial jet deviates from its glide slope by a small percentage, it can result in a physical collision with highway infrastructure, shifting the risk from the airfield to the general public on the ground.
