Teams of twenty hauled a United Airlines Boeing 737 across the tarmac at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday, part of an annual fundraiser benefiting Special Olympics New Jersey athletes. The event, which pits groups against each other and the clock to drag the 100,000-pound jet 12 feet, drew participants from across the region to the New Jersey airport for a cause that's become a local tradition.
A Jet, a Rope, and a Good Cause
As reported by CBS News New York, participants pulled an airplane at Newark Liberty as part of the Special Olympics event. According to Special Olympics New Jersey, the challenge invites teams of 20 to see how fast they can move a United Airlines Boeing 737 the required 12 feet, with all proceeds going to benefit Special Olympics New Jersey athletes. The organization notes that volunteers must be 14 years or older to sign up for the event.
The annual fundraiser has become something of a fixture at the airport, and this year's edition followed the same format that's drawn crowds in prior years. Per News 12 New Jersey, groups take turns pulling the 100,000-pound Boeing 737 down the tarmac, turning what sounds like an impossible feat of strength into a team-building spectacle for a good cause.
Firefighters Join the Pull
Among the teams on the tarmac were firefighters from the Chews Landing Fire Department in Blackwood, who took their own turn hauling the jumbo jet. The station's report notes that the firefighters raised $1,200 on their own, adding their effort to the broader total collected through the event.
The Plane Pull has built a track record over the years as one of Special Olympics New Jersey's signature fundraising events. The organization's own account describes the 2025 edition as the 25th annual Plane Pull presented by United Airlines, while an earlier recap pegged the 2019 event as the 23rd annual gathering, noting that it had raised more than $162,000 to date for the more than 26,000 Special Olympics New Jersey athletes the organization serves.
Why It Matters for Local Athletes
Events like this one are central to how Special Olympics New Jersey funds its programs for athletes across the state. Newark Liberty International Airport, located in New Jersey, has hosted the pull year after year, giving businesses, first responders and community groups a chance to put their muscle behind the cause rather than simply writing a check.
For the teams who showed up Saturday, the appeal is straightforward: gather twenty people, grab a rope, and see who can move a jet the fastest, all while raising money for athletes in their own backyard. It's a quirky test of strength that's turned into one of the airport's more memorable annual traditions.
