Obama Plane Diverted - Candidate Is Safe, Changed Planes

"We maintained full authority of the aircraft" air officials said of the plane with Senator and presidential candidate Barack Obama aboard.  What the hell does that even mean?

Mr. Obama is presently on the ground waiting for another plane, CNN reports.  What happened with the plane.  What are "control issues"?!

UPDATE:  Still no web links.  CNN Producer Alex Marquardt who was aboard said it was one of the smoothest landings he's ever been on.  Obama was on his way to a speaking engagement out of Chicago when a control surface problem caused them to abort the flight.  The problem was said to be corrected in descent, but they opted to switch planes and landed safely.

How can Obama have been in trouble in midair like that and we're still talking about effing Christie Brinkley?!

UPDATE II:

CNN finally posts this

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI (CNN) — Barack Obama’s plane made an unscheduled landing in St. Louis Monday after the pilot reported technical problems. The plane landed safely.

En route from Chicago to a campaign appearance in Charlotte, North Carolina, the pilot detected a "control ability issue" in the "pitch" of the plane. He said there was no need to assume the "brace" position and that he had "full authority of the aircraft."
–From CNN Producer Alexander Marquardt

Final Update:

  if you've just tune in AP provides this:

I just thought we'd spice things up a little bit today," Obama said, smiling and joking.

Earlier while airborne, passengers had felt the plane dip briefly, causing a stomach-rolling sensation as if being in a roller coaster, but the unexpected movement did not cause visible alarm for the frequent fliers on the plane.

About an hour after taking off from Chicago, reporters among the 44 passengers on board were made aware of the problem. A flight attendant, who was clearing the aisles, told reporters the plane wasn't heading to North Carolina as planned.

Minutes later, Obama spokeswoman Linda Douglass came to the back of the plane to inform reporters of a "minor little problem with the airplane" and said the plane would make a precautionary landing in St. Louis.

Then, the pilot came on the overhead speaker and provided more details.

"We detected a little bit of controllability issue in terms of our ability to control the aircraft in the pitch, which is the nose up and nose down mode," announced the pilot, whose name was not released in accordance with Midwest policy.

"The autopilot and the aircraft are just fine. As we descended, whatever was inhibiting our ability has now been rectified. However, just for safety purposes we are going to be stopping in St. Louis and making sure that there's nothing binding our controls. We have full authority of the aircraft. We will not need to brace. It will be a normal landing," he said.

The CNN producer cited above as of 11:51am says they are still sitting on the runway waiting to learn more, and that Mr. Obama is still on board.  "Everything seems to be ok."