A Boeing 737 operated by Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia was forced to abandon its take-off from an Indonesian airport yesterday after its front wheel locked, a report said.

The wheel jammed when the plane, heading for Jakarta, tried to make a turn onto the runway at International Minangkabau Airport in Padang, West Sumatra, the official Antara news agency said.

After detecting the problem, the pilot decided to stop and had the plane towed back and the 155 passengers disembarked.

'Technical reasons'

No one was hurt in the incident.

Two Boeing jets operated by private Indonesian carriers on Wednesday made emergency returns to their airports shortly after takeoff for "technical reasons."

Malfunctioning front wheels were also thought to be the cause in those cases.

Indonesian airlines have come under closer scrutiny following the disappearance of an Adam Air plane carrying 102 people on New Year's Day.