Melania Trump's Plane Forced To Land After 'Smoke In Cabin'

The First Lady was heading to a children's hospital in Philadelphia.
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US First Lady Melania Trump’s plane was forced to land after smoke caused by a “mechanical issue” was detected inside the cabin.

Reporters in a press pool travelling with the First Lady noticed a thin haze of smoke and a burning smell about 10 minutes after taking off.

The plane landed safely back at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where it took off from.

Journalists were given wet towels and told to hold them over their faces if the smell became too strong.

Stephanie Grisham, Trump’s spokeswoman, said in a statement that the incident was a “minor mechanical issue. Everything is fine and everyone is safe”.

First Lady Melania Trump arrives at @Andrews_JBA to board USAF plane en route Philadelphia to address @TJUHospital conference on neonatal abstinence syndrome, which affects infants withdrawing from mother's use of narcotics. No turn and wave before boarding aircraft. pic.twitter.com/HEpnPS8aQU

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 17, 2018

First Lady's aircraft safely on the ground back at Andrews. No rush to get off the plane after smoke and burning smell detected. Problem developed about 10 minutes after take-off en route Philadelphia for @FLOTUS hospital remarks. Press and officials calmly led off the tarmac. pic.twitter.com/PFX11v5xJg

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 17, 2018

Mark Knoller, White House correspondent for CBS news, tweeted: “First Lady’s aircraft safely back on the ground at St Andrews. No rush to get off the plane after smoke and burning smell detected.”

He added that members of the press and officials were “calmly” led off the tarmac.

Trump was heading to a children’s hospital in Philadelphia to address a conference on neonatal abstinence syndrome - a visit which is still expected to go ahead today.

The trip is being re-evaluated and reporters with Trump say a new plane is being prepared, according to Steven Portnoy, a CBS White House correspondent.

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