At least 5 killed in plane cash in Alaska
Source: Agencies |
August 11, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
A plane carrying nine people crashed amid southwest Alaska's remote mountains and lakes, killing at least five people on board, officials said yesterday. Former US senator Ted Stevens and ex-NASA chief Sean O'Keefe were believed to be aboard.
It was unclear if the longtime Republican senator and O'Keefe, who is now the CEO of defense contractor EADS North America, were among the dead.
Rescuers arrived via helicopter and were giving medical care to survivors, Alaska National Guard spokesman Major Guy Hayes said.
Alaska officials reported that nine people were aboard the aircraft and that "it appears that there are five fatalities."
A US government official said that Alaska authorities had been told that the 86-year-old Stevens, a former longtime Republican senator, was on the plane. The official, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, said Stevens' condition is unknown.
Hayes said the Guard was called to the area around 7pm on Monday after a passing aircraft saw the downed plane. But severe weather has hampered search and rescue efforts.
The National Weather Service reported rain and fog, with low clouds and limited visibility early yesterday.
Stevens and O'Keefe are longtime fishing buddies and the former senator had been planning a fishing trip near Dillingham, longtime friend William Canfield said.
The flights at Dillingham are often perilous through the mountains, even in good weather.
Defense contractor EADS North America said O'Keefe, the CEO of the US-based division of the European company, was a passenger on the small plane. The company said it had no further information about O'Keefe's status.
It was unclear if the longtime Republican senator and O'Keefe, who is now the CEO of defense contractor EADS North America, were among the dead.
Rescuers arrived via helicopter and were giving medical care to survivors, Alaska National Guard spokesman Major Guy Hayes said.
Alaska officials reported that nine people were aboard the aircraft and that "it appears that there are five fatalities."
A US government official said that Alaska authorities had been told that the 86-year-old Stevens, a former longtime Republican senator, was on the plane. The official, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, said Stevens' condition is unknown.
Hayes said the Guard was called to the area around 7pm on Monday after a passing aircraft saw the downed plane. But severe weather has hampered search and rescue efforts.
The National Weather Service reported rain and fog, with low clouds and limited visibility early yesterday.
Stevens and O'Keefe are longtime fishing buddies and the former senator had been planning a fishing trip near Dillingham, longtime friend William Canfield said.
The flights at Dillingham are often perilous through the mountains, even in good weather.
Defense contractor EADS North America said O'Keefe, the CEO of the US-based division of the European company, was a passenger on the small plane. The company said it had no further information about O'Keefe's status.
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