MOSES LAKE - A private aircraft carrying eight passengers from Pasco made an emergency landing at the Grant County International Airport.

The Falcon 10 jet pilot discovered the rear left tires were destroyed after take-off from Pasco Airport, executive manager of Port of Moses Lake Craig Baldwin told the Columbia Basin Herald on Wednesday.

The pilot decided not to fly back, but to land at Grant County International Airport because of runway lengths and the emergency response teams, said Baldwin.

He contacted airport officials about two hours before the emergency landing. 

"(The pilot) wanted to burn fuel before they landed. When you are landing on metal rims, there is the potential for sparks," said Baldwin.

The aircraft landed safely on its metal rims at 9 p.m., he added.

Emergency crews from Grant County Fire District 5, Grant County Sheriff's Office, Fairchild Air Force Base and the airport's rescue and firefighter team responded to the incident.

No one was hurt, according to Baldwin.

The passengers were headed to Las Vegas for the weekend, he said.

The passengers had private vehicles take them back to the Tri-Cities after the emergency landing, according to Baldwin.

Fairchild Air Force Base crews checked the airport runway for any remaining debris afterwards.

"What could have been disaster turned out very well. We're happy to say every emergency department came together as they could and things went smoothly," he said. 

The aircraft is currently in a hangar at the airport, said Baldwin.

The aircraft owner may apply for a one-time ferry permit that would allow a pilot to fly the plane back to Pasco.

The permit would allow a pilot to fly a plane, meeting minimal aircraft requirements, for the purpose of getting it to a repair area, according to Baldwin.

The permit is issued through the Federal Aviation Administration.

The twin-engine aircraft was built in 1978 and is owned by Curtis Air, based in Wilmington, Del., according to Airport-Data.com.