Obama plane lands after mechanical hitch

A plane carrying Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has made an unscheduled landing after developing a mechanical problem.

The pilot experienced a problem maintaining the proper pitch, or control over keeping the nose at the proper angle, as it was taking off from Chicago.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown said the plane landed in St Louis, Missouri, en route to North Carolina.

A mechanic boarded the plane and was planning to inspect the problem on the ground in St Louis.