GLENDALE, Ariz. --

A small plane carrying Secret Service agents assigned to Republican presidential candidate John McCain made a forced landing after taking off from a Phoenix area airport Tuesday, but there were no injuries.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the single-engine Cessna 206 took off from Glendale Airport just after 10 a.m. The pilot noted a rough-running engine and tried to land in a vacant lot two miles from the runway, hitting a fence. The plane had substantial damage.

The pilot and two Phoenix-area Secret Service agents on board were heading to a potential event site for McCain.

McCain communications director Jill Hazelbaker issued a statement saying the Arizona senator and his wife, Cindy, were relieved to learn everyone was safe.