NEWARK, NJ — It was a typical Sunday afternoon run through the Garden State for Warren Boardley. As he drove past Newark Airport on the New Jersey Turnpike, the bakery delivery driver sang a tune to himself and smiled, checking his rearview mirror as he cruised down the highway and the sun shone through his truck’s windows.
And then came the airplane.
That’s the surreal experience Boardley had after a passenger jet landing at the busy airport clipped a light pole on the turnpike and struck his vehicle – a harrowing collision that was caught on dashcam video.
Authorities said the incident took place around 2 p.m. near interchange 14 on the ramp to the southbound lanes in Newark. The United Airlines Boeing 767 passenger jet – which was carrying 221 passengers from Venice, Italy – was making its final approach into the airport when it struck a light pole on the nearby highway.
New Jersey State Police said a landing tire and the underside of the plane hit the truck, and the light pole struck a Jeep that was on the highway.
No passengers or crew members about United Flight 169 were injured, authorities said.
“The aircraft landed safely, taxied to the gate normally and no passengers or crew were injured,” United spokespeople said. “Our maintenance team is evaluating damage to the aircraft. We will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident and our crew has been removed from service as part of the process.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that the plane struck a light post. The agency is investigating the collision.
The National Transportation Safety Board is also investigating. A preliminary report is expected within 30 days.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she has been briefed on the incident, and an investigation continues.
“I’m grateful the aircraft landed safely, and all passengers and crew are unharmed,” Sherrill said.
The truck driver in the dashcam video – later identified as Boardley – was making a delivery to a depot at the airport at the time of the collision, according to Chuck Paterakis, vice-president of transportation for Schmidt Bakery and owner of H&S Family of Bakeries in Baltimore.
Paterakis said the plane’s tires touched the top of the truck.
“Everybody, the driver and everybody on the plane, should be very fortunate,” Paterakis told ABC7 News. “Because it could have been the opposite of what happened.”
A driver on the highway told CNN that he saw the plane flying low in the sky and felt a big gust of wind as it passed overhead.
“It was just coming directly in front of the truck … I just saw smoke and debris,” he said. “I think [the truck was] trying to evasively maneuver out of its way or something, but they were cornered.”
Boardley was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries – cuts from broken glass on his arm and forearm – and has since been released.
WBFF Fox 45 Baltimore posted dashcam video footage from the inside of the truck, which can be seen here.
In the video, Boardley can be seen singing to himself as he drives down the turnpike. He glances up as a loud screeching noise is heard in the background. Suddenly, a violent crash sends the camera spinning, with debris flying into the air.
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