A United Airlines flight was reported to have flown too low and too slow before colliding with a light pole and a tractor-trailer last month, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Flight 169, traveling from Venice, Italy, to New Jersey, struck the pole and a Schmidt Bakery truck during its descent around 2 p.m. on May 3. Dashcam footage captured the moment the Boeing 767-400 passenger jet hit the bakery truck on the New Jersey Turnpike. All 231 crew members and passengers were unharmed, and the aircraft landed safely after the incident. The truck driver sustained minor injuries.
The NTSB's preliminary report indicated that the aircraft was descending toward the airport when the crew experienced multiple runway changes before being assigned to runway 29. The flight was described as normal until the descent phase, during which the airspeed began to decrease. The first officer alerted the captain that the aircraft was "still slow and a little low." The airplane descended to just 18 to 19 feet above ground level as it crossed over the Turnpike, striking a 15-foot-tall light pole moments before landing. The captain reported hearing a "thump," while flight attendants heard a "loud bang" prior to touchdown. An examination of the aircraft revealed three punctures to the lower left aft fuselage and damage to one tire. In response to the incident, United Airlines issued a safety alert to pilots regarding the use of visual glideslope indicators, which provide guidance during approach and landing.
