As it came in to land on a congested New Jersey highway, a United Airlines aircraft struck a bakery truck and toppled a light pole.
On Sunday, the car was struck by Flight UA169, which was arriving in the Garden State from Venice, Italy, as it approached Newark International Airport.
Since then, shocking video has surfaced showing the aeroplane gliding over the New Jersey Turnpike and colliding with a bakery van.
Amazingly, the car’s driver, who vanished among the wreckage in the terrifying video, was able to flee unharmed.
The plane’s wheel struck the truck, according to Chuck Paterakis, senior vice president of transportation and logistics for H&S Bakery, who spoke with KOMO News.
“To me, that everyone on that plane, everyone and the driver, God was looking after them, and there’s no doubt if we did that scenario again, I don’t know if anybody could have survived that,” he stated.
According to Paterakis, the motorist was released from the hospital on Sunday night after only suffering minor cuts.
On Sunday afternoon, the jet struck the car as it was arriving in New Jersey from Venice, Italy.
In the horrific video, the driver vanished in an instant after the plane made contact.
Just before 2:00 pm, the passenger plane, which had 221 passengers and a crew of ten, crashed into the truck.
“Upon its final approach into Newark International Airport, United flight 169 came into contact with a light pole,” the company said in a statement, without mentioning the truck.
No passengers or crew members were hurt when the plane landed safely and taxied to the gate as usual.
The company stated, “Our maintenance team is assessing damage to the aircraft and we will investigate how this occurred.”
The plane damaged the light pole and a tractor trailer, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
“United Airlines Flight 169 struck a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike around 2 p.m. while on approach to land at Newark Liberty International Airport,” the FAA said, adding that they are looking into the incident. The Boeing 767 arrived from Venice, Italy, and made a successful landing.
The driver has now been discharged from the hospital, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which also confirmed that the plane damaged a light post and a tractor trailer.
“I’ve been briefed on the incident involving United Flight 169 at Newark Liberty International Airport,” New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said in a statement.
I’m thankful that the plane touched down safely and that none of the crew or passengers were hurt. We will keep an eye on developments since preliminary reports suggest that a truck on the Turnpike may also have been involved. United is looking into how this happened.
United has been contacted by The Daily Mail for additional comment.
