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”.

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.