221 passengers on United Flight 169 walked away unharmed after crash, but the truck driver caught under its landing gear didn’t
Close shave.
United Airlines Flight 169 from Venice, Italy, struck a bakery delivery truck and a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike during its landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on May 3, 2026. While all 221 passengers and 10 crew members walked away unharmed, the truck driver suffered minor injuries.
The Boeing 767 being used by the popular airline came within feet of disaster as it crossed over Interstate 95 at an unusually low altitude. Dashboard camera footage from inside the truck shows the driver, Warren Boardley, singing to himself moments before the plane’s landing gear clipped the top of his cab. The impact sent glass shards flying and left Boardley with cuts on his arm, but he was able to pull over safely.
His father, Warren Boardley Sr., told CNN affiliate WJZ that his son was in total shock. “Out of all the things in the world, a plane?” Boardley Sr. said. “You can’t prepare for that. You can prepare for another driver doing something, but a plane? That’s unbelievable.”
United Airlines has placed the pilots on leave
According to AP, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has reclassified the incident as an accident due to the extent of damage to the aircraft. Investigators arrived on scene May 3 to interview the flight crew and examine the cockpit voice and flight data recorders. United Airlines has placed the pilots on leave while the investigation continues.
The NTSB plans to review flight operations, weather conditions, human performance, crew management, aircraft performance, and air traffic control communications. A preliminary report is expected in roughly a month, though the agency has not scheduled any news conferences.
Safety expert Steve Arroyo, a former United pilot who has landed on the same runway many times, called the approach “one of the most challenging in the world.” Runway 29 is the shortest at Newark Liberty, measuring just 6,726 feet, and is typically used only when strong winds make the longer runways less viable.
On Sunday, air traffic controllers reported wind gusts up to 31 mph. Arroyo said investigators will examine how well the crew planned for the landing and what data they entered into their flight control systems. “The margin of error is extremely low,” he said. Former NTSB investigator Jeff Guzzetti added that fatigue could also be a factor, given the long flight from Italy.
Witnesses on the turnpike described the scene as surreal
Steve Kohnenkamp, who was driving home from a coin show, estimated the plane came within 100 feet of his car. The close shave was a terrifying experience for anyone on the road there. “Another two or three feet lower, I would have been toast,” he said. He described a cascade of dust and the smell of burned rubber filling the air.
Patrick Oyulu, another witness, said the plane’s undercarriage was so low he could see its details as it passed overhead. “You’re thinking, ‘Oh my God, this is a movie! What are we seeing here,’” Oyulu said. He later saw smoke and debris on the road, noting that the truck appeared to swerve in an attempt to avoid the plane.
The incident has raised questions about how the collision went unnoticed by the flight crew and air traffic control. Recordings show that the plane was cleared to taxi to the gate after landing, with no immediate awareness of the damage. About half an hour later, an air traffic controller told an operations vehicle that there was “a hole in the side of the airplane.”
United confirmed that its maintenance team is evaluating the damage and conducting a “rigorous flight safety investigation.” The airline emphasized that the aircraft landed safely and taxied to the gate normally, with no injuries to passengers or crew.
Warren Boardley was delivering bread products to a Newark airport depot for H&S Family of Bakeries when the accident occurred. Chuck Paterakis, senior vice president of transportation for the bakery, said the company is cooperating fully with investigators. “We are relieved that everyone is safe, as that is our top priority,” Paterakis said. Boardley was treated at a hospital for minor injuries and is now recovering at home.
Runway 29’s proximity to the New Jersey Turnpike has long been a point of concern
The runway starts less than 400 feet from the highway, and planes often pass at low altitudes, which can be startling for those on the road. While this is the first known incident of a plane striking a vehicle on the turnpike, the close calls are not uncommon. The NTSB’s investigation will likely examine whether the runway’s design or air traffic control procedures contributed to the accident.
The last major incident involving a plane striking a vehicle during landing occurred in 1985, when Delta Flight 191 crashed at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport after encountering a microburst. That accident resulted in 137 fatalities, including the driver of a vehicle struck by the plane. In contrast, Sunday’s incident at Newark is being hailed as a near-miracle, with no serious injuries despite the significant damage to the aircraft and truck.
(Featured image: THE Holy Hand Grenade!)
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