Tuesday, December 20 2005 12:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Los Angeles: An Air India flight with 273 passengers and crew members aboard made an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport after blowing a tyre upon taking off from the airport, officials said. Air India Flight 136 departed at 8:33 p.m. (local time) last evening for Frankfurt, Germany, and safely returned to the airport at 10 p.m. after dumping fuel, said airport spokeswoman Nancy Castles.

Television footage showed sparks flying from the 747-400 aircraft as it made its emergency landing. There were no reports of injuries.

The Federal Aviation Administration temporarily halted flights at the airport while the aircraft was landing, but operations resumed soon afterward, Castles said.

More than 100 fire fighters and paramedics were standing by when the plane returned, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Jim Wells.

"We were prepared for the worst scenario to take place", he said.