Jetliner Lands Safely in Chicago Without Nose Gear

The Federal Aviation Administration investigated an emergency landing by an American Airlines jet that skidded on its nose at O'Hare International Airport.

None of the 131 passengers and five crewmembers aboard Flight 1740 from Los Angeles were injured as sparks flew from the plane's nose as it slid down runway 14-Right in Chicago around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday. Passengers deplaned by rear stairs and the jet was left on the runway pending an investigation, American Airlines said in a statement.

Local television stations carried the dramatic landing live after the pilot radioed the tower that the nose gear of the MD-80 aircraft would not deploy.

"It was an excellent job by the pilot to land that plane," Chicago Department of Aviation spokeswoman Kristen Cabanban told The Chicago Tribune.

There appeared to be minimal damage to the disabled jetliner which was inspected by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.

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