Copilot of United jet that struck light pole didn't realize flight was low, report says

The copilot of the United Airlines passenger jet that struck a light pole during landing in New Jersey acknowledged recognizing the approach was low, but said he did not realize it in time to request an aborted landing, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report. The May 3 Venice-to-Newark flight described a loud thump and a mild jolt just before touchdown at Newark Liberty International Airport. Inside the cockpit, the first officer recalled telling the crew that they were 'still slow and a little low' before glancing outside. The initial NTSB report describes how debris from the light pole, and not the plane itself, hit a truck on the New Jersey Turnpike. The Boeing 767 sustained substantial fuselage damage, and one tire showed evidence of slash marks, though none of the more than 200 aboard were injured. Regular drivers on that stretch are used to low approaches; final findings and safety recommendations are not expected until next year.