MONDAY, July 7, 2008, 3:48 p.m.
By Associated Press

Obama Midwest charter forced to land
A Midwest Airlines charter carrying Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama made a precautionary landing in St. Louis on Monday after the crew had a problem keeping the nose up on takeoff from Chicago.

Midwest Airlines said the problem on the MD-80 Midwest charter developed because an emergency slide located in the tail cone of the plane deployed in flight and never threatened the safety of the flight.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it planned to investigate the incident.

The delay forced postponement of a economic speech by Obama in Charlotte, N.C.