A plane carrying Ecuadoran President Lenin Moreno was forced to make an emergency landing Saturday in Washington at the end of an official visit, the country's communications ministry announced.

Moreno and several members of his government traveling with him were "all fine," the announcement said.

"The president's plane suffered a mechanical failure a few minutes after takeoff from Washington DC and had to make an emergency landing," the ministry said.

This handout picture released by Ecuador's presidential press office shows President Lenin Moreno speaking at the Legislative Palace in Quito on May 24, 2020
This handout picture released by Ecuador's presidential press office shows President Lenin Moreno speaking at the Legislative Palace in Quito on May 24, 2020 PRESIDENCIA ECUADOR / STR

"Moreno and all occupants of the plane are fine and will return to Ecuador in the coming hours," it added.

The statement provided no details on the nature of the mechanical defect or the circumstances surrounding the landing.

The Ecuadoran leader, whose four-year term ends on May 24, had just completed an official visit that included meetings with officials in the new administration of President Joe Biden.

He also met with Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund. The IMF in September had granted a $6.5 billion credit to the South American country.

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