United Airlines Flight Hits Bakery Truck, Light Pole While landing at Newark Airport in New Jersey

5.3.26 NEWARK, N.J. — A United Airlines aircraft made an abrupt and unusual contact with a bakery delivery truck while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday, an incident captured in dramatic dashcam footage that quickly circulated on social media.

According to local reports, the plane was a United Airlines Boeing 767-400. Senior vice president of Transportation & Logistics at H&S Bakery, Chuck Paterakis, says the driver was headed from Baltimore to New Jersey when he was hit. The driver suffered minor injuries, according to Fox Baltimore. "Our maintenance team is evaluating damage to the aircraft and we will investigate how this occurred," a United spokesperson said.

https://x.com/BNONews/status/2051052111354273997?s=20

According to reports, United Airlines Flight 169 struck the truck during its landing sequence at the busy New Jersey airport. The collision, though visually startling, resulted in no serious injuries to the aircraft's passengers or crew, nor to the truck driver, according to preliminary accounts from witnesses and initial responders.

Video from inside the bakery truck's cab shows the driver, wearing a seatbelt, reacting moments before impact. The footage depicts a sudden, violent jolt, with the cab filling with dust and debris as the vehicle is apparently pushed or overturned. The split-screen recording includes exterior views of the airport vicinity, underscoring how close the encounter occurred amid active ground operations near runways or service areas.

After the crash

Aviation incidents involving ground vehicles during landing or takeoff phases are uncommon but not unprecedented at major hubs like Newark, where complex coordination between aircraft, ground crews, and support vehicles is routine. Authorities have not yet released detailed information on the flight's origin, aircraft type, or the precise circumstances that led to the collision. The Federal Aviation Administration and United Airlines are expected to investigate the event, examining factors such as visibility, communication protocols, and ground positioning.

No immediate disruptions to airport operations were reported beyond the immediate response, though such incidents typically prompt safety reviews. United Airlines has a history of ground handling incidents at Newark, though Sunday's event stands out for its direct involvement of a landing aircraft and a commercial delivery vehicle.

The Santa Monica Observer will continue monitoring developments as more details emerge from federal investigators and airport officials.