NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- A chartered airplane carrying Gov. Phil Bredesen to a campaign event Monday night experienced mechanical problems and had to return to Nashville, a campaign spokesman said.

The governor, first lady Andrea Conte and eight staffers were on board when pilots discovered a problem with the system that controls the landing gear and brakes, said campaign spokesman Will Pinkston, who was also on board. The 12-seat turboprop had already extended its landing gear on the approach to Jackson when pilots decided to return to Nashville and land on a longer runway that would give them more room to land.

The plane landed smoothly and came to a stop with some of the small amount of hydraulic pressure that was left in the system, Pinkston said. "The two pilots on the plane were extraordinarily professional," he said.

Bredesen then got into a car to attend a gathering for staff and volunteers at his campaign headquarters in Nashville. He is running against Republican state Sen. Jim Bryson in Tuesday's election.