United jet hits Turnpike light pole, tractor trailer while landing at Newark

For the second time in less than 24 hours, there was a scare this weekend involving a United Airlines flight landing at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Flight 169, arriving from Venice, Italy, hit a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike, according to the FAA. The incident happened around 2:00 P.M. The Port Authority Police Department says the jet also hit a tractor trailer traveling south on the Turnpike.

“The tractor trailer driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and has since been released,” Port Authority Police said.

The Boeing 767 landed safely, the FAA said. In a statement, United says “the aircraft landed safely, taxied to the gate normally and no passengers or crew were injured. Our maintenance team is evaluating damage to the aircraft and we will investigate how this occurred.”

“Minor damage to the aircraft was observed. Airport staff inspected the runway for debris and normal operations were quickly resumed,” Port Authority police said in a statement.

In an updated statement Sunday evening, United said “We will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident and our crew has been removed from service as part of the process.”

231 people were aboard the aircraft.

Sunday’s incident comes after another United flight coming into Newark was forced to declare an emergency Saturday night, due to an unruly passenger.