A passenger took video of the landing that was obtained by the Toronto Sun. The video shows a front right tire and a piece of the wheel assembly detaching from the landing gear shortly after touchdown.
The plane Q400 Bobardier turbo-prop, is the same type of aircraft that crashed near Buffalo earlier this year killing 50 people on board.
According to the Toronto Sun the plane with 73 passengers and crew was descending over Buffalo when ashes and debris were seen falling from the wheel.
"I was scared and the other passengers looked worried too," one passenger told the Toronto Sun. "For a moment I thought the worst in that we may not make it."
The passenger, who contacted the Sun, was not identified but was said to be returning with his family from a wedding via Buffalo.
After the plane landed safely, it was towed to the gate.
"This is not a common occurrence," said Philip Reed, a spokesman for Colgan Airlines, which operates the flight for Continental.
"The pilot was taxiing back when he noticed there was a loss of hydraulic pressure."
He said the incident was investigated and the plane was repaired and put back into service. "The passengers were never in any danger," Reed told the Sun. "This sort of thing does happen from time to time."
To view the Toronto Sun article, go to http://www.torontosun.com/news/world/2009/05/15/9464756-sun.html
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