Plane makes emergency landing

HOUSTON (Reuter): An American Airlines jet with 109 passengers and crew on board made an emergency landing in Houston on Thursday after a cockpit warning light indicated a problem with one of its tires, an airline spokesman said.

Flight 1612, a non-stop between Miami and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, was diverted to Houston Intercontinental Airport to make the emergency landing because of strong winds in Dallas, said Al Becker, a spokesman with AMR Corp.

Dallas-based AMR is the parent of American Airlines.

"It may have been a loss of tread," Becker said of the tire problem that triggered a cockpit warning signal while the jet was taking off from Miami.

Becker said the Boeing 727 landed normally and taxied to the gate, where a ground crew inspected the tire. Passengers remained on board while the plane was being inspected, he added.