I was a passenger on a flight that landed like this. It was a 757 landing at LGA from Chicago. Winds were high in early February. We caught a tailwind and I could tell the pilots were struggling with the wind. When we landed we were hit with a massive sideways wind gust. The plane made a hard left and I was pulled up and out of my seat with the belt doing everything it could to keep me from hitting the ceiling. I was sitting on the wing and I watched as the left wing barely hit the tarmac twice. I screamed “HOLY SHIT!!” as I thought this would be my last seconds on earth. The engines kept cycling up and down. People were freaking out. All of a sudden the plane lurched back to the right and the plane made a three point landing. The entire air frame creaked in protest . The pilots calmly explained that we were waiting for a tow once we stopped. A disheveled Flight Attendant walked down the aisle saying “That wasn’t supposed to happen.” All of this happened in about 20 seconds.

My Dad flew aircraft in the Navy. He thought the co-pilot was making the landing and when things got hairy the pilot took over and landed the plane. He also thought I was exaggerating. He told me these landings are common at LGA. It was just another day at the office. I disagreed. I was seated next to a six year old girl and her mother. The only time I would swear in front of a six year old girl is if I thought my life was coming to an end.