KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — A Malaysia Airlines flight heading to India with 166 people aboard made an emergency landing in Kuala Lumpur early Monday after it was forced to turn back when a tire burst upon takeoff, the airline said.

The airline said Flight 192 to Bangalore in southern India landed safely at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 1:56 a.m. Monday, about four hours after it departed.

Additional Photos

The ground crew checks the Malaysia Airlines Flight 192 bound for Bangalore, India, that turned back to Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, Malaysia, on Monday. The Associated Press

The airline initially said the right landing gear of the Boeing 737-800 “malfunctioned upon takeoff” but later said the problem was caused by a burst tire.

“This was because one of the tires on the right-hand main landing gear burst during takeoff,” the airline said. .

Malaysia Airlines said tire debris was found on the runway, prompting air traffic control to immediately order the pilot to turn back to the airport. Fire rescue services were also deployed to be on standby.

The airline said all 159 passengers and seven crew members disembarked from the plane and no one was injured.

“They have landed safely –thank God!” acting Transport Minister and Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein tweeted.

The incident comes more than six weeks after a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 with 239 people on board disappeared March 8 on an overnight flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Searchers are still trying to locate the plane, which is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

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