First Lady Melania Trump's airplane was forced to make a landing at Andrews Air Force base due to slight mechanical issues. The flight was en route to Philadelphia. Reports show that smoke and burning smells became overwhelming, forcing members of the press pool to hold wet towels over their faces. The good news is that everyone is safe. The First Lady boarded another plane a little before 10 A.M. EST.
Via Politico:
First lady Melania Trump's plane made an unplanned landing at Joint Base Andrews after the aircraft experienced a "minor mechanical issue."
"Everything is fine and everyone is safe," Trump's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.
[…]
Smoke could be seen inside the plane, in addition to there being a burning smell, according to a pool report. Damp washcloths were also passed out to passengers to hold over their faces for the smell.
BREAKING: Smoke and burning smell reported on Melania Trump's flight to Philadelphia after “mechanical issue," per pool.
— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) October 17, 2018
Flight returning to Andrews. Press brought wet towels, told to hold them over their faces if smell became too strong.
Smell and smoke have since dissipated.
DEVELOPING: Plane carrying first lady Melania Trump lands safely at Joint Base Andrews after being forced to turn around shortly following takeoff amid reports of a "burning smell." https://t.co/ihVfoYP4j6
— ABC News (@ABC) October 17, 2018
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