PHOENIX - An American Airlines flight bound from Tucson to Chicago made an emergency landing yesterday because of a problem with a tire.

Flight 2098 landed safely at Sky Harbor International Airport about 10 a.m. with 108 passengers and a crew of six, said Tim Smith, spokesman for American Airlines in Fort Worth, Texas.

The plane lost tread from a nose gear tire when it took off from Tucson shortly after 7 a.m.

The pilot flew between Tucson and Phoenix for nearly three hours to burn fuel before it made the emergency landing. The plane continued on to Chicago after the tire was replaced.