Jet Returns to LAX for Emergency Landing

An Air India passenger jet with 273 people on board made a safe emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport about 10 p.m. Monday after blowing a tire during takeoff, airport officials said.

No physical injuries were reported, said city Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells, “but there were emotional injuries and stress.” One person was taken to a hospital, he said.

Air India Flight 136, bound for Frankfurt, Germany, took off from LAX at 8:33 p.m., blowing at least one of what airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles called “redundant tires.”

The 747 dumped fuel over the ocean, then returned to LAX, producing sparks as it touched down. More than 100 firefighters and paramedics responded, dousing its wheels with foam to cool them after it came to a halt.

“We were prepared for the worst scenario ... but fortunately it did land safely, with some fire on the right side,” Wells said.

Castles said the landing triggered a No. 2 alert at the airport, one grade lower than the alert issued for the emergency landing of a JetBlue aircraft with a twisted landing gear earlier this year.

Passengers began to get off the plane about 10:30 p.m. Two runways were closed as a result of the emergency landing.

Alfred Hallenberger, identified as a passenger on the jet, told L.A.’s Fox 11 News in a telephone interview that the plane vibrated strongly as it landed, and that “some passengers were nervous.” When the plane stopped, “there was clapping and cheers,” he said.