While returning from a flight intended to rescue a dog in Illinois, Christina Stevens, a 25-year-old dog trainer, experienced a forced landing in a cornfield in Ohio on Monday, October 26, 2026, with the engines having stopped in mid-air. The pilot, the young woman and the Griffon Korthals that they were taking back to Scranton emerged almost without a scratch, as WOLF reported, and investigators are still looking for what caused the breakdown.
For several years, Christina Stevens works as a dog trainer at Mannered Muttsand dogs have occupied his life almost forever. During his discussions with Richard “ Rick » Nardonea pilot who had become a good friend, he asked her if she would one day be willing to accompany him on a rescue; she immediately answered yes. The opportunity presented itself this Monday, with a flight toIllinois to rescue a dog.
Richard Nardoneoriginally from Wapwallopen in Pennsylvania, already had more than 300 dog rescue flights to its credit. However, while the plane Beechcraft 95-B55 Baron regained Scranton with the newly rescued Griffon Korthals on board, a problem arose.
“I only had one thought in my head: I’m going to die”
From the start of the journey, Rick asked him to unplug his headset, which was sending him static. Tired from all these hours of flying, Christina had put her head down to take a breath when a jolt, similar to those felt during previous landings, pulled her from her rest. Convinced that they were landing, she looked up and noticed that the plane was still flying very high. In the midst of sharp turns, she realized something was wrong; the last words she heard from the pilot's mouth, addressed to the operator, announced that the engines had stopped. The plane then plunged towards the ground.
“ I just prepared myself. I only had one thought in my head: I'm going to die », confided Christina. It all happened in a matter of seconds, without her having the time or even the possibility to send a message or call anyone. We imagine, she explained, that we will know who to call or that we will take out our phone to film if the worst happens; in the moment, none of this existed, and everything was already over.
Shaken, but returned home that same evening
The aircraft ended its journey in a cornfield in the county ofAshlandin theOhio. Joe Lyonsowner ofACP News andAshland County Pictureswas not far away and rushed to the scene; The photos and videos he sent to the channel show the path followed by the plane: after bouncing to land, it left the plot where it had landed, hit a house and came to rest in another plot.
“ I tell you, they have a guardian angel, because it was a hell of an accident », launched Joe Lyons. The outcome had little to do with it: the plot had been harvested an hour earlier, the plane hit the house on its way, and a different route could, according to this story, have been fatal to them. Richard Nardone, Christina and the dog nevertheless came out with barely a scratch, shaken but safe.
The same evening, they returned home. The authorities are now investigating the origin of the breakdown: empty tank, faulty part or any other scenario, nothing has yet been established.
“You never know when your last moment will come. It could have been mine”
Christinawho does not call herself a believer, nevertheless spoke of a miracle that she does not intend to spoil. She returned to work as soon as possible and contacted a few people she had lost contact with, so that everyone knew that she cared.
“ You never know when your last moment will come. It could have been mine », Confided the dog trainer, who announced that she would be a little more careful than before and would make sure to always buckle her seat belt. She is already waiting for the next flight to continue rescuing dogs, because otherwise, she believes, this second chance would not be worth it.