Copilot of United jet that struck a light pole realized flight was low, but not in time: report

The copilot of a United Airlines passenger jet realized the approach was low but did not call for an aborted landing in time after the aircraft struck a light pole during its descent at Newark Liberty International Airport. Investigators described a loud thump and a mild jolt just before touchdown, with the first officer noting the plane was still slow and a little low. The flight originated from Venice, Italy, on May 3, aboard a Boeing 677 carrying more than 200 people, and it landed safely despite significant fuselage damage. While law enforcement initially said the jet struck the top of a bakery truck, the NTSB’s initial report clarifies that it was debris from the light pole that hit a truck on the New Jersey Turnpike, not the plane. None of the more than 200 people aboard were hurt, and the final safety analysis is not expected until next year.