HARBIN - A passenger plane was forced to make an emergency landing Monday at an airport in northeast China shortly after it took off, as the housing on its left engine fell off, according to a statement from a local airline company.

China Southern Airlines flight CZ 3624, which was en route from Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, to the southern city of Guangzhou, made a successful emergency landing at 9:52 am after it took off at 8:29 am, said a statement issued by the company's Heilongjiang office.

The office then sent another plane, which took off at 11:03 am to help transport the stranded passengers, it said.

Although the company has refused to reveal what type of aircraft was involved, local media have reported that it was an Airbus A320.

An investigation into the cause of the incident is under way.