Politics & Government
Melania Trump's Plane Has Mechanical Issue En Route To Philly
Breaking: Melania Trump's plane was forced to turn around when smoke filled the cabin shortly after takeoff.
PHILADELPHIA, PA -- First lady Melania Trump's flight to Philadelphia on Wednesday was forced to prematurely land at a military base after mechanical issues, sources state.
Reporters aboard the plane said that there was a burning smell and smoke in the cabin of the plane about 10 minutes after takeoff. Passengers were handed towels to help with breathing. No injuries were reported and the plane landed safely at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, according to The Associated Press.
The First lady was en route to an event at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. She was scheduled to tour the hospital's special facilities to care for mothers who suffer from opioid abuse and their children. It is part of her "Be Best" tour focusing on healthy pregnancies.
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She arrived safely later in the morning, and was joined at Jefferson by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar.
Thankful to join @FLOTUS and @HHS_ASH today at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia to gather the essential perspectives of clinicians and researchers as we take on the challenge of neonatal abstinence syndrome—one of the most tragic consequences of the opioid epidemic.
— Secretary Alex Azar (@SecAzar) October 17, 2018
Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
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