Moscow airport on alert for emergency airplane landing

After the A-330 passenger plane took off from the Vladivostok airport, pieces of the aircraft's wheels were found on the runway.

"After the A-330 took off from Vladivostok, pieces of the tires were found on the runway, most likely from that particular airplane," an Emergencies Ministry spokesman told RIA Novosti.

The aircraft continued its route to Moscow instead of returning to Vladivostok because the plane would have to burn up or dump its fuel before attempting an emergency landing in Vladivostok.

The aircraft is due to land in Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport and emergency vehicles and ambulances have already been stationed at the airport.

There was no information on the number of people on board or when the aircraft is due to land in Moscow.

The spokesman also said that pieces of tires left on runways are not rare.