The governor's state police twin turboprop was authorized to enter the large restricted air space over Washington, but authorities didn't immediately know that because the plane's transponder -- used to communicate with air traffic controllers -- wasn't working or its signal was breaking up.

I hadn't heard about this story as it happened. ABC's Brian Ross mentioned it on Charlie Rose Friday. Ross claimed that air controllers were "within 60 seconds" of having shot down the plane before the right information ("it's the governor of Kentucky!") got to the right people (man on button).