Close Call at Newark

On May 3, 2026,  United Airlines Flight UA169,  a Boeing 767,  very nearly hit the I-95 roadway while completing its approach to runway 29 at the Newark airport.  It did hit a light pole,  which subsequently hit a truck on the bridge,  and its landing gear may,  or may not,  have brushed against that truck.  The airliner suffered enough damage to be grounded for significant repairs.  The truck was nearly destroyed,  and its driver was injured.

Only about 6 or 7 feet lower,  and the airliner would have struck the concrete rail!  Hitting a solid structure like that is a death sentence for the aircraft,  and likely everyone aboard it!  The NTSB is investigating this,  but even this early on,  it is clear from the images made public so far,  that this airliner was below its approach glide path,  by too far.  There is no judgement,  as of yet,   as to why that happened.

I see two serious questions here:  (1) Why was the airliner too low on approach?  (2) Why is such a tall concrete obstruction as I-95,  so close to the end of that runway?  The first one is a matter for the NTSB and FAA to sort out.  The second one is a zoning-related matter for the FAA to sort out with local leaders in Newark.  It may require closing runway 29-11.

With an approach speed of about 160 mph,  by the time this photo was taken,  the airliner was already below the rail,  while still very close to the highway,  which is somewhat elevated,  like all interstates. 

You can see the close proximity of the I-95 elevated highway to the end of runway 29-11 in this image.  Such a proximity should never have been allowed to happen in the first place,  in this observer’s opinion.  

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