A passenger plane carrying 136 people is returning to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Tuesday afternoon to make an emergency landing after blowing a nose-gear tire during its takeoff, authorities said.

The Boeing 737, which is carrying American Airlines' Flight 1586 from Los Angeles to Toronto, is expected to make a touchdown at LAX about 12:45 p.m., according to U.S. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor.

The plane took off from the airport around 11 a.m for Toronto, but the pilot immediately reported the mechanical problem and asked to return to the airport.

Before making the emergency landing the plane needs to burn off its fuel over the ocean, the spokesman said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2008)