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NEWARK, New Jersey -- A United Airlines formation arriving from Italy struck a airy rod supra the New Jersey Turnpike portion connected last attack to Newark Liberty International Airport connected Sunday afternoon, damaging a tractor-trailer traveling beneath and sending its operator to the infirmary with insignificant injuries, authorities said.
The incidental occurred astir 2 p.m. arsenic United Flight 169, a Boeing 767 400 traveling from Venice to Newark, was approaching Runway 29. Airport officials said the craft came into interaction with a airy rod implicit the southbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike, causing harm to some the rod and a tractor-trailer connected the roadway.
Despite the collision, the craft landed safely. There were 221 passengers and 10 unit members connected board, and nary injuries were reported among those connected the plane. United said the craft taxied to the gross usually and sustained lone insignificant damage.
"Our attraction squad is evaluating harm to the aircraft, and we volition analyse however this occurred," United Airlines said successful a statement. "We volition behaviour a rigorous formation information probe into the incident, and our unit has been removed from work arsenic portion of the process."
The Port Authority Police Department and New Jersey State Police responded to the country connected the Turnpike. Authorities said the tractor-trailer operator was taken to the infirmary with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released.
Airport officials said runway inspections were conducted instantly pursuing the incident, and mean operations were rapidly resumed.
According to Chuck Paterakis, vice president of proscription for Schmidt Bakery and proprietor of H&S Family of Bakeries, the tractor-trailer progressive belonged to Baker's Express and was en way to present breadstuff products to a Newark airdrome depot.
"The operator experienced a commercialized plane's tires landing connected the tractor oregon brushing the apical of the tractor," Paterakis told ABC News. Dashcam video shows the infinitesimal of impact, either from 1 of the plane's tires oregon from falling debris.
The driver, Warren Boardley of Baltimore, was traveling northbound connected the Turnpike astatine the clip of the incident. Paterakis said Boardley was capable to safely propulsion implicit aft the onslaught and interaction his employer.
"The trailer is not damaged, and the breadstuff merchandise was not touched," Paterakis said.
Boardley sustained cuts from breached solid to his limb and forearm, but did not endure superior injuries.
"Everybody, the operator and everybody connected the plane, should beryllium precise fortunate," Paterakis said. "Because it could person been the other of what happened, and a small assistance from God went a agelong mode contiguous for everybody connected the plane, and including the driver."
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed it is investigating the incident.
Officials with the FAA and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority were connected tract Sunday evening, conducting inspections and gathering evidence.
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