HOUSTON - A US Airways plane made an emergency landing without nose gear at Bush Intercontinental Airport in the US city of Houston on Monday night, local media reported.

The pilot of the Houston-bound Flight 1825 from Philadelphia noticed a problem with the nose gear before landing late Monday night, according to the Houston Chronicle newspaper.

The plane, carrying 53 passengers and a four-member crew, made a couple of passes so that controllers in the tower could take a look.

David Hebert, spokesman for the Houston Airport System, told the media that officials found the nose gear wasn't functional.

The pilot and the airline officials then made the decision to land without the nose gear being deployed. Hebert said the plane landed safely and no injuries were reported.

A photo of the aircraft showed its nose on the ground. Officials confirmed the plane landed with smoke and fire in the cabin, which was swiftly extinguished.

In a separate report, local KPRC TV said passengers had to deplane using chutes and one of them was sent to hospital with unknown injuries. Authorities have not confirmed the injury.

It's not immediately clear what caused the malfunction of the nose gear. Federal and state officials have begun an investigation.