Air Berlin makes emergency landing in Phuket

BANGKOK (AFP) - An Air Berlin jet carrying 249 passengers burst a tyre as it made a dramatic emergency landing on a Thai resort island after experiencing engine trouble, the director of Phuket airport said on Friday.

The Airbus A-330 flight from Phuket to Abu Dhabi got into trouble nearly an hour after take off late on Thursday and was forced to return to the tourist island, slamming onto the runway as it landed.

The airline said all 249 passengers on board were unharmed in the incident.

"An emergency landing took place after the pilot told the control tower that the plane's left engine ran into trouble," airport director Prathuang Sornkhom told AFP.