A passenger plane was forced to return to JFK Airport 20 minutes into the flight because of a mechanical problem.

The Brazilian airline TAM Linhas Aereas SA said in a press release yesterday that Flight JJ8081 to Sao Paulo with 196 people on board returned after a warning light indicated problems with the wing flaps.

A spokesman said the jet that took off Friday night circled in the air for several minutes to burn fuel and lighten up before safely landing at JFK. The plane was fixed and took off for Sao Paulo early yesterday, where it landed safely.