ST. LOUIS (AP) - The airplane carrying Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has made a safe, unscheduled landing in St. Louis Monday after a maintenance issue arose en route from Chicago to Charlotte, N.C.

The pilot has announced from the cockpit that the plane experienced a problem maintaining the proper pitch, or control over keeping the nose at the proper angle, as it was taking off from Chicago. FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown says the plane had a flight control problem.

The pilot has announced, "We have full authority of the aircraft." A mechanic has boarded the plane and was planning to inspect the problem on the ground in St. Louis.

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