EMERGENCY crews were called out at Leeds Bradford Airport on Tuesday afternoon after fears that an incoming plane had problems with its front wheel.

The British Midland jet, carrying 34 passengers from Jersey to Leeds, developed problems with its front wheel immediately after it had taken off from Jersey, with the crew worried about the front nose wheel after hearing a bang on take-off.

The aircraft did a fly-past the control tower at Yeadon with the undercarriage down, and when controllers could not see any problems, the plane landed safely on the runway followed by airport fire appliances.

Half a dozen fire appliances from Rawdon, Otley and Bradford were called to Yeadon airport in case disaster struck and the front wheel gave way.

Airport chiefs have been quick to play down the incident as 'precautionary'.

Relieved passenger Arthur Barnes, 68, who is visiting relatives in Leeds from Jersey, told Wharfedale Newspapers: "There was never any real panic on board and everyone was calm.

"We knew there was a problem but we didn't really know what.

"The cabin crew dealt with everything efficiently and although things like the Concorde disaster do cross your mind, I don't think there was any real danger of that happening here.

"I am glad to be back on the ground though."

Jeff Ross, of Leeds-based news and picture agency Ross Parry, was returning from a family wedding in Jersey with his wife Jane and two children.

He said the captain kept all the passengers informed throughout and everyone stayed very calm.

"There wasn't any shouting or screaming and the captain was very professional.

"He told us there was a problem and that as a precautionary measure they were going to do a fly past the tower.

"It was rather strange, I'd never done anything like that before, but there were no problems and the plane landed safely."

Another passenger, who did not want to be named, said that although he was shaken passengers were told that they had been in no real danger.

Airport director of operations Rob Lund said: "Air traffic control told us that a Saab 340 was in-bound with 34 people on board.

"On take-off from Jersey there was a noise and the crew had reason to believe there might have been something wrong.

"As a precaution we called our full emergency procedure, and called in local authority emergency services to support our own emergency staff.

"The passengers were advised about a potential problem."

He said he believed the mood aboard the aircraft was calm, but the airport did not tell waiting friends and relatives the plane may have been in trouble as they did not want to unduly worry them.

"We asked the aircraft to do an approach and fly past with the undercarriage down, so we could see if there was anything wrong.

"The plane did not circle, it flew in on a normal approach and made a perfect landing," said Mr Lund.

He said the fly-past and emergency callout was purely precautionary.

Mr Lund said: "You cannot afford to be complacent.

"There might have been a burst tyre, and although the crew did not think there was, we had to be sure.

"It was a useful exercise for the airport. We've gone through all the motions, which we do rehearse from time to time."

Experts are still investigating the problem with the plane.

Aircraft enthusiasts listening to air band radios at a nearby vantage point said crew and airport control tower staff were worried the nose wheel was not fully extended before landing.