People are saying Newark Liberty Airport's Runway 29 needs a redesign after video shows how close Boeing 787 comes to traffic when landing
Published on May 10, 2026 at 9:00 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on May 10, 2026 at 9:00 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
An eye-opening video of a Boeing 787 coming into land has left a lot of people saying the same thing – Newark Liberty Airport needs to design one of its runways.
Footage showed a Boeing 787 for United Airlines coming into land and coming a little too close for comfort for drivers on a highway.
With a delivery truck driver injured in another incident, it’s led many to call for a change at the airport.
That would involve redesigning Runway 29.
This footage from Newark Liberty Airport of a Boeing 787 coming into land left a lot of people shocked
At one point or another, we’ve all seen a video of a plane landing in a way that almost defies expectation.
Whether it’s touching down at the trickiest airport in the world or landing in 45mph crosswind, there’s enough footage out there to leave all of us non-pilots with sweaty palms.
But a recently shared video of a Boeing 787 from Air Canada has set a lot of people on edge.
The clip shows the plane flying in to land, passing over a busy highway in the process.
This whole area into Runway 29 at Newark Liberty Airport desperately needs a redesign. This is Air Canada B787 Flight AC548 from Vancouver slightly missing that truck! pic.twitter.com/BHJ0EgogAA
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) May 5, 2026
The clip was shared days after a recent incident at Newark Liberty International Airport, involving United Airlines.
On May 3, a Boeing 767 aircraft touched down from Italy, passing over a highway to land.
In the process, a landing tire reportedly clipped a light pole and a delivery truck.
The delivery driver, identified as Warren Boardley, was treated at hospital and discharged, having received minor injuries from broken glass.
Planes flying into Runway 29 have to pass low above lanes of traffic, which has led to criticism online.
“Airports shouldn’t be allowed to be built so close to roads. Am I right?” one person tweeted.
“That’s terrifying, how does a plane clip a pole and a truck on landing? Glad no one was seriously hurt, but that’s a massive safety red flag,” another wrote.
It’s no wonder this section of road was judged to be America’s fourth most stressful intersection.
What has been the response from the authorities?
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, an investigator was dispatched to interview the flight crew on board the plane.
After the runway was inspected for debris, normal operations at the airport resumed quickly on the day of the accident.
“Upon its final approach into Newark International Airport, United flight 169 came into contact with a light pole. The aircraft landed safely, taxied to the gate normally and no passengers or crew were injured,” a spokesperson for United Airlines told Supercar Blondie.
“Our maintenance team is evaluating damage to the aircraft. We will conduct a rigorous flight safety investigation into the incident and our crew has been removed from service as part of the process.”
Supercar Blondie has reached out to Newark Liberty International Airport and Air Canada for comment.
Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
