A Close Call: United Flight Strikes Baltimore Bakery Truck on Newark Approach

A Low Approach Over a Busy Highway

The incident occurred around 2:00 PM on Sunday, May 3, 2026, as United Flight UA169, a Boeing 767-400 arriving from Venice, Italy, was making its final approach to Newark Liberty International Airport. According to flight tracking data, the plane was traveling at more than 160 miles per hour when it descended over the New Jersey Turnpike.

On the ground, Boardley was driving a Schmidt Bakery tractor-trailer, part of the H&S Family of Bakeries, northbound on the turnpike. He was moments from exiting when the plane's landing gear and the underside of the aircraft struck a light pole and then collided with his truck. The pole then fell onto a Jeep, though the driver of that vehicle was not reported injured.

Dashcam footage from inside the truck shows the sudden, violent impact. The plane's tire comes through the windshield. Glass explodes inward. The truck shakes. And then, the plane continues its descent and lands safely.

A Baltimore Driver With Cuts & Glass

Warren Boardley, a Baltimore-area resident, was taken to a local hospital with cuts to his arm and hand from broken glass. Chuck Paterakis, senior vice president of transportation for Schmidt Bakery and co-owner of H&S Family of Bakeries, confirmed that Boardley was "shaken up" but otherwise expected to recover fully.

The truck sustained body and window damage, but the bakery cargo was reportedly unharmed. The company praised Boardley's quick thinking in maintaining control of the vehicle after the impact.

The Flight: 231 People Unaware of the Collision

On board United Flight 169, passengers and crew were largely unaware that anything had gone wrong. The plane landed safely, taxied to the gate, and passengers disembarked normally. No injuries were reported on the aircraft.

United Airlines issued a statement confirming the incident: "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."

The crew has been removed from service pending the investigation.

What Went Wrong?

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation, which will include analysis of the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are also involved.

Key questions remain:

• Why was the plane so low? Runway 29, where the plane landed, starts less than 400 feet from the edge of the New Jersey Turnpike. It is used depending on wind conditions, and planes on final approach routinely pass over the highway; but rarely this close
• Did the pilots know they had struck anything? Recordings of air traffic control communications suggest that the pilots and controllers were not immediately aware of the collision, as other aircraft continued to land on the same runway
• Was there a mechanical or navigation issue? Investigators will examine whether the plane deviated from the standard glide slope, whether wind or weather played a role, or whether any aircraft systems malfunctioned

What This Means for Our Readers

This bizarre incident raises several important points for anyone who drives near major airports or flies commercially.

1. Airports and highways are dangerously close: At Newark, as at many major airports, runways are built adjacent to busy roads. In normal conditions, planes clear highways safely. But when something goes wrong—whether pilot error, mechanical issue, or unusual wind—the margin for error is terrifyingly small
2. Dashcams save stories (and evidence): Boardley's dashcam video is now crucial evidence for investigators and will likely be used in the NTSB report. For drivers, a dashcam can provide incontrovertible proof of what happened in any collision, even one involving a commercial jet
3. Liability questions abound: Who is responsible for Boardley's injuries and the damage to his truck? The airline? The airport? The air traffic controllers? The answer will depend on the investigation's findings. If pilot error is found, United could face civil liability. If a mechanical issue is discovered, Boeing might be involved
4. Minor injuries, major luck: Boardley's cuts were minor. But if the plane had been just a few feet lower, or if the truck had been positioned differently, this story could have ended very differently. It is a reminder that even routine travel carries unpredictable risks

Behind this spectacle is a serious event that could have been catastrophic. As the NTSB investigates, we are left with gratitude for narrow escapes; a reminder that safety systems, when they work, save lives.

Our best wishes to Warren Boardley for a full and speedy recovery. And our thanks to the pilots and crew who landed the plane despite not knowing they had hit anything at all.

If you have been injured in any kind of collision—whether with another car, a commercial vehicle, or even a plane—the independent attorneys we connect you with have the experience to investigate the cause and fight for the compensation you deserve.