A recent report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sheds light on an incident involving a United Airlines passenger jet that struck a light pole while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport. The flight, arriving from Venice, Italy, encountered difficulties on May 3, when the copilot realized the plane was descending too low but not in time to call for an aborted landing.
Incident Details
The initial report from the NTSB reveals that the crew members heard a loud ‘thump’ and felt a ‘mild jolt’ just before the aircraft touched down. The first officer recalled advising the captain, ‘you are still slow and a little low,’ as the plane was descending. However, he did not realize the severity of the situation in time to suggest aborting the landing.
Despite the impact, the Boeing 767 managed to land safely, though it sustained substantial damage to its fuselage and one of its landing tires showed evidence of slash marks. Fortunately, none of the over 200 passengers on board were injured.
Contributing Factors
The report indicates that the flight crew was instructed to prepare for three different runway landings as they approached the airport, leaving them with little time to adjust. Additionally, the runway used was the shortest at the airport, typically reserved for conditions with strong winds, which were present that day with gusts up to 31 mph.
Aviation safety expert Jeff Guzzetti noted that the captain faced challenges due to strong winds and the short runway. The pilot reported adjusting the power levers to compensate for wind gusts that caused moderate turbulence during the approach.
Aftermath and Safety Considerations
Clarifying initial reports, the NTSB stated that debris from the light pole, rather than the plane itself, struck a truck on the New Jersey Turnpike, causing minor injuries to the driver and damage to the truck’s windshield and trailer. Dashboard camera footage from the truck captured the moment of impact, showing the driver reacting to the sound of the jet’s engines.
The NTSB’s final report, expected next year, will provide further insights and recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future. Meanwhile, regular drivers near Newark airport are accustomed to seeing planes descending low over the highway as they prepare to land.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
