Possible blown tire prompts LAX emergency landing

The Boeing 747 touched down smoothly around 9 p.m. Friday. The pilot initially descended to a low altitude so a police helicopter could inspect the tire's condition, then pulled up again and circled before landing.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Mike Fergus said the pilot reported that the jet may have had a blown tire upon takeoff from Manila and declared an emergency landing. The aircraft idled on the runway as fire trucks and other ground crews surrounded it.