NEWARK, NJ – A bakery truck driver is speaking out after a United Airlines flight clipped his tractor-trailer while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport, an incident he feared would leave him decapitated.
A Split-Second From Disaster
Warren Boardley Jr., 39, was driving for Baltimore-based H&S Bakery on the New Jersey Turnpike Sunday afternoon when United Flight 169 made its final approach. According to his father, Warren Boardley Sr., the driver saw a sudden “flash of light” before the Boeing 767-400 struck his vehicle.
“He described fear, total fear that he wouldn’t walk away from it, that he would be decapitated,” Boardley Sr. told reporters during a Tuesday press conference. Dashcam footage captured the harrowing moment Boardley Jr. ducked and raised his hands just as the aircraft made impact.
Miraculous Survival with Lingering Injuries
Officials confirmed that the plane, arriving from Venice, Italy, hit both the truck and a light pole, forcing the tractor-trailer into a concrete barrier. Despite the impact, Boardley Jr. survived with what were initially described as minimal injuries.
However, family attorney J. Wyndal Gordon noted that the driver is suffering from “blunt-force trauma to the head” and acute distress. “Had he been going one mile per hour faster or slower, it would have more than likely killed him,” his father added.
Investigation into ‘Visual Landing’ Maneuver
The United flight, carrying 231 people, was attempting a “visual landing” on Runway 29. This specific maneuver is known among pilots for being difficult due to:
- The short length of the runway.
- Non-standard guidance lighting.
- Challenging crosswinds.
While the plane landed safely after the collision, the family’s legal team is looking into potential negligence. Attorney Gordon stated that while litigation hasn’t begun, they are seeking answers as to why a commercial jet struck an 18-wheeler on a major public highway.
