Jet lands safely in L.A. after tire blows

Incident occurred upon takeoff, FAA confirms nose gear failure

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updated 6:53 p.m. ET Aug. 6, 2009

LOS ANGELES - A Federal Aviation Administration spokesman says an Alaska Airlines jet has landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport after a tire blew during takeoff.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor says Flight 6 had just taken off for Washington National Airport on Thursday when the pilot reported a possible blown tire on the nose gear and declared an emergency.

The Boeing 737-800 landed without incident at 3:04 p.m.

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Gregor says one of the two tires on the nose gear did fail.

It's not immediately known how many people were aboard the flight.

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