Full Breakdown
United Flight 169 Strikes Bakery Truck on New Jersey Turnpike
5/6/2026, 9:20:01 PM
Incident Summary
On May 3, 2026, United Airlines Flight 169, a Boeing 767-400 from Venice, Italy, clipped a H&S Bakery tractor-trailer driven by Warren Boardley Jr. on the New Jersey Turnpike during visual approach to Runway 29 at Newark Liberty International Airport. The landing-gear struck the truck and a light pole; the flight, carrying 221 passengers and 10 crew, landed safely with no passenger or crew injuries.
Contributing Factors
Runway 29 is Newark’s shortest runway and requires a visual, non-precision approach. Gusty crosswinds prompted the crew to select this runway, and the aircraft descended within inches of the highway, leading to the impact.
Parties Involved
Warren Boardley Jr., a driver for Baltimore-based H&S Bakery, is the injured party. His father, William Boardley Sr., and attorney J. Wyndal Gordon represent the family. United Airlines operates Flight 169; the NTSB, FAA, New Jersey State Police, and Sen. Chris Van Hollen are investigating.
Injuries & Immediate Effects
Boardley Jr. suffered blunt-force head trauma, described as “closed-head trauma,” and glass-related injuries to his arm and hand, reporting widespread pain and emotional distress. The truck’s bakery cargo was undamaged, and the trailer remained intact. Sources differ on injury classification.
Official Responses
United Airlines said the aircraft landed safely with no passenger or crew injuries and pledged a rigorous flight-safety investigation. The NTSB classified the event an “accident” and will issue a preliminary report within 30 days. The FAA ordered United to provide cockpit voice and flight data recorders.
Criticism & Legal View
Attorney Gordon warned of possible negligence, noting aircraft do not ordinarily strike 18-wheelers on the Turnpike, and called for fact-finding before any lawsuit. The family has sent letters to United, FAA, Port Authority, and NTSB.
On-the-Ground Account
William Boardley Sr. said his son felt “total fear” after a flash caused him to duck and strike his head. Dash-cam video shows the landing-gear hitting the truck and pole.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He described fear, total fear that he wouldn’t walk away from it, that he would be decapitated. That’s what he thought,” — William Boardley Sr., father
- “We expect that there’s some negligence there because planes don’t just don’t drop out of the sky and they just don’t ordinarily and routinely hit 18-wheelers traveling along the New Jersey Turnpike,” — J. Wyndal Gordon, attorney
- “The aircraft landed safely, taxied to the gate normally and no passengers or crew were injured.” — United Airlines statement
- “The investigation will examine multiple factors, including flight operations, meteorological conditions, human performance, crew resource management, aircraft performance, and air traffic control,” — NTSB statement
- “That descent has to be very, very precise when it technically is a non-precision approach, when you when you have to do that visually,” — Joshua Schirard, commercial pilot
Next Steps
The NTSB’s preliminary report is due within 30 days; a full safety board investigation will follow. United, the FAA, and New Jersey State Police stay engaged.
