Plane makes emergency landing at Newark airport

A United Express flight from Atlanta to Newark made an emergency landing because of problems with its nose landing gear, in Newark, New Jersey, as pictured in this video grab provided to Reuters on February 27, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

NEWARK, United States - An airplane with hydraulic problems made an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport Monday evening, forcing the temporary closure of the entire airport. No injuries were reported.

Shuttle America Flight 5124 departed Atlanta at 3:47 pm local time with 71 people on board and was scheduled to land at Gate 23 of Terminal A at Newark at 6:58 pm.

According to officials from the Port Authority, the plane landed at 6:22 pm, not long after the crew aboard announced an issue with its front wheel while the plane was still in the air. Passengers exited on emergency chutes.

Newark fire department crews were dispatched to the scene, but there were no smoke or fire conditions on the plane.

The entire airport was shut down as of 6:54 pm, "due to an aircraft incident," according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The airport was reopened within about 15 minutes.