NEWARK (WABC) — New details were released about the close call at Newark Airport last month.

A United Jet flew about 15 feet above the busy New Jersey Turnpike on its approach to the runway.

The plane hit a light pole in the process and that pole hit a delivery truck.

“Low and slow,” those are the words used in a new NTSB report to describe the United flight that came close to catastrophe after hitting a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike while landing at Newark airport.

The report found that the flight with more than 230 passengers and crew on board was flying dangerously low at just 15 feet above one of the busiest highways in the country.

Investigators say the pilots had been given multiple runway changes in the minutes before the incident, as they descended in strong winds and were eventually told to land at Newark’s shortest runway.

The first officer warned the captain, who was manually flying the plane, that the airspeed was slow, eventually saying, “You are still slow and a little low.”

Moments later, the plane hit the light pole, which crashed down onto a delivery truck, injuring the driver.

According to the NTSB, the captain said he “heard a thump” shortly before touchdown.

Passengers deplaned normally, but the plane suffered “substantial damage” with a gash in the side of the fuselage.

“The NTSB is gonna wanna go back and say what is it about this approach, this runway, how can we take out the possibility of error that almost led to tragedy in this case,” an expert said.

The driver’s father spoke out in the days after the accident

“Imagine that, struck by a plane, generally nobody walks away from a plane crash, nobody,” he said.

The first officer says he looked outside seconds before touching down and recalled thinking the plane looked too low above the turnpike, but at that point it was too late to change anything.

The Boeing 767 has not flown since the incident.

Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News

Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.

As many Haitian families marked Mother’s Day on May 31, Community First Equity  announced an expansion of services into Long Island and New Jersey. 

The Brooklyn-based maternal health support organization, founded by Dr. Christina Pardo, focuses on advancing health equity and connecting underserved communities with culturally informed healthcare resources and support. A major component of that work is the Haitian Women’s Birth Equity initiative, which provides culturally responsive education, services and referrals to families navigating pregnancy, birth, postpartum care and beyond.

“ I am very proud and excited [for the expansion]. When we started the Haitian Women’s Birth Equity Initiative Brooklyn-based, it was to advocate for the needs and provide a support structure for Haitian mothers and families. And the goal was always to be able to create that support and advocacy wherever there are concentrations of Haitian mothers and families. “ Pardo told The Haitian Times.

“So being able to expand that structure that provides support and connect with local structures in Long Island and New Jersey is an incredibly proud moment to just help organizations in those areas and to provide support for moms.”

As part of its regional growth, Community First Equity announced a partnership with the Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey who is launching Wombs of Ayiti. 

On June 26, Family Connects NJ, a non-profit organization and partner of  Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, will be hosting a community event, Wombs of Ayiti, where they celebrate pregnant mothers and Haitian traditions around pregnancy, birth, and motherhood.

They will offer community resources, food, face painting, and opportunities to connect with other pregnant mothers, families, and support providers. If you are interested in attending, you can register here. 

Community First Equity has also reached Long Island, coordinating a community baby shower May 23 at St. Martha’s Church in Uniondale. In partnership mainly with Solidarité Haïtiano-Américaine de Long Island, the organization aims to provide information and resources about maternal mental health, early literacy and doula support. Additional partners included Moms Who Care, Harmony Healthcare Long Island and the Health & Welfare Council of Long Island.

For more information about Community First Equity or to volunteer, donate, or partner with them, visit www.communityfirstequity.com/.

Related