NEW YORK (AP) — The copilot of a United Airlines passenger jet that struck a light pole as it landed at Newark Liberty International Airport last month recognized the aircraft was coming in low, but did not realize it in time to call for an aborted landing, according to a new preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

The incident, documented in the NTSB's preliminary analysis, involved a Boeing 767 that departed from Venice, Italy, on May 3 and was approaching the shortest runway at Newark, which is only 6,726 feet long.

According to the report, the crew received brief warnings of “three different runway landings” as they neared the airport, but had little time to adjust. The pilot recalled shouting, “you are still slow and a little low,” while the first officer noted a mild jolt just before touchdown.

As the aircraft descended, it collided with a low‑lying light pole. Debris from the pole struck a bakery delivery truck traveling on the nearby New Jersey Turnpike. The truck’s windshield was damaged and its trailer punctured. No injuries were reported for any of the more than 200 passengers aboard the jet, and the crew was not injured either.

Investigators noted that the plane’s approach occurred under strong wind conditions, with gusts reaching up to 31 mph. An aviation safety expert, Jeff Guzzetti, said the pilot’s “got fast” statement reflected a sudden acceleration as the aircraft turned into a headwind, prompting the pilot to pull back on the power levers to compensate for moderate turbulence.

The NTSB report also indicates the Boeing 767’s fuselage sustained substantial damage, and one of its landing tires displayed slash marks. The pilot and first officer later told investigators that the plane’s approach appeared too low and that the wind signs were more severe than expected.

While the final report is still pending, the preliminary findings point to pilot error in maintaining a safe altitude, combined with weather-related challenges, as the likely cause of the low approach. The NTSB will issue a final report sometime next year with specific recommendations.

Drivers on the stretch of Interstate 95 near Newark are often accustomed to seeing jets approach low for landing, but the incident underscores the risks when the approach goes off‑spec.

Associated Press transportation reporter Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska contributed to this story.}