Melania Trump's plane was forced to return to an airbase after a mechanical issue caused smoke to fill the cabin.

Journalists travelling with the First Lady reported that a thin haze of smoke and a burning smell spread through the plane around 10 minutes after it took off.

Reporters were brought wet towels to hold over their faces if the smell became too strong. Nobody was hurt in the incident and the plane landed safely back at Joint Base Andrews.

Mrs Trump was travelling to a hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to meet with families of children who were affected by exposure to opioids while in the womb when the incident occurred.

One of the journalist's on the plane said an aide to the First Lady came into their compartment to inform them that there was a “mechanical problem”.