Nationwide — Warren Boardley Jr., an African American man from Maryland who was driving a bakery truck on the New Jersey Turnpike, was struck by a United Airlines plane near Newark Airport. He survived the crash but suffered blunt force trauma. His family is now pushing for answers as investigators probe the collision.
According to Fox Baltimore, Boardley Jr. has since been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. His attorney said he did not suffer broken bones or major internal injuries, but doctors confirmed blunt force trauma from the impact.
He was treated after the Sunday crash near Newark Liberty International Airport. Medical staff discharged him once his condition stabilized, though his legal team said he could still face possible neurological issues linked to the collision.
The crash happened when a United Airlines aircraft, on approach to Newark, struck the bakery truck and a light pole on the New Jersey Turnpike. Reports say the plane was flying low during landing when its underside and landing gear made contact with the vehicle.
Boardley Sr. and family attorney J. Wyndal Gordon spoke at a news conference in Baltimore. They called for a full explanation of how the incident happened and said they are considering all possible causes, including pilot error, mechanical failure, or weather conditions.
Boardley Sr. shared what his son told him about the moment of impact, saying, “He said he seen a flash and it made him duck, throw up his hands. And in doing so, I believe he struck his head at a real force. Yeah, I think he struck is head.”
“He described total fear that he wouldn’t walk away from. He thought that he would be decapitated, that’s what he thought,” he said.
Gordon said he has reached out to United Airlines and other involved parties to gather facts. He said the family has received conflicting accounts and wants clarity on how a plane could hit a truck on an active highway.
The legal team is also reviewing dashcam footage from the bakery truck. Gordon said the video shows how narrowly the situation unfolded and noted that even a small change in timing could have led to a fatal outcome.
The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into the crash. United Airlines said its maintenance teams are inspecting the aircraft as the full safety review continues.