When Christina Russell boarded a plane from Newark to Buffalo, planning to head back to Toronto, she never dreamed she'd be in the middle of a major drama that would result in a white knuckle landing.
She was one of 73 passengers and crew members onboard Continental flight 3268 as it came in for a landing at Buffalo's main airport last Tuesday. But her touchdown was anything but routine after the plane, a Q400 turbo-prop made by Canada's Bombardier in Downsview, lost a wheel as it came in for a landing.
Russell took some dramatic shots of the crippled bird as it limped onto the runway. Many passengers weren't sure if they'd actually make it to the ground safely. Apparently there were hints of what was to come - some of those seeing people off in New Jersey saw flames shooting out of the aircraft just after it took off.
There was reason for some to experience a disturbing sense of déjà vu -
the Q400 is the same plane involved in a horrific crash in the city last February that left
49 people onboard and a homeowner on the ground dead. Investigators have cited pilot error for that disaster.
This latest problem appears to be mechanical but it's still not clear what led to it. The plane has been repaired and is back in service, with Continental calling it a rare and very unusual incident.
Photos and video by: Christina Russell