HOUSTON -- A Continental Express jet made an emergency landing Tuesday evening with a blown left tire, KPRC Local 2 reported.

Flight 3161 left George Bush Intercontinental Airport shortly before 4 p.m. with 45 passengers and three crewmembers on board en route to Minneapolis.

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Slideshow: See Images Of Plane Emergency

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The plane blew at least one tire upon takeoff and circled IAH for two hours while officials prepared for the landing. The pilot made a low-level flyby at the airport in order for authorities to assess the situation.

Video from Newschopper 2 showed the left tires on the landing gear nearly stripped of rubber.

The airport was put on an Alert 2 status, preparing for a possible crash.

Fire officials put water on the runway to prepare for the emergency landing on Runway 15 Left, which is the longest runway at Houston's largest airport.

Dozens of emergency vehicles, including ambulances and fire crews, were sent to the scene. More than 100 personnel were on hand.

The plane touched down at about 6:20 p.m. without incident.

Airport spokesman Richard Fernandez said other airport operations continued normally as the plane circled overhead.

The plane is an Embraer 145XR, which has 50 seats and a range of 2,000 nautical miles. The plane has four exits.