Trial begins in case of plane crash into home

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Opening statements are underway in a wrongful death claim filed after the 2009 crash of a commuter flight into a home near Buffalo.

The attorney for the family of Doug Wielinski spent about 90 minutes Thursday describing his life up until the night Continental Connection Flight 3407 slammed into his suburban home. His family is suing Continental and the regional carrier that operated the Newark, New Jersey-to-Buffalo flight.

Wielinski was the only person killed on the ground when Flight 3407 stalled and crashed into his house in Clarence.

All 49 people on board the flight were killed. The passengers' families have settled their lawsuits for undisclosed amounts.

The Wielinskis' claim names Continental Airlines, regional carrier and flight operator Colgan Air, and Colgan's parent, Pinnacle Airlines.

The two sides differ on whether Wielinski died instantly.