The pilot of the EVA Airways MD-90 found a problem with the landing gear shortly after taking off from the northern city of Taoyuan with 42 people on board, an airline official said.

'The pilot also got a report from Taoyuan airport that broken tyre pieces were found on the runway after the plane took off,' she said.

The aircraft blew two more rear tyres making an emergency landing at Kaohsiung at 9.54 am. No one was injured but aviation authorities were forced to temporarily close the airport.

Several flights were delayed before the airport reopened at 2pm, aviation officials said.

Technicians found the aircraft burst one tyre on takeoff and two more during its emergency landing.

The cause of the accident was being investigated. -- AFP