Alaska Plane Crash

Former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe Alive After Alaska Plane Crash

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 10, 2010, 4:12PM

Former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe

Former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe survived the Alaska plane crash that killed former Sen. Ted Stevens, according to defense contractor EADS North America. O'Keefe is the CEO of the company, which specializes in aviation.

"It was with a great sense of relief and gratitude that we learned that Sean, and his son,
Kevin, survived the aircraft crash in Alaska. We extend our deepest sympathy to the
families of those less fortunate in this terrible accident," EADS Chairman Ralph Crosby told TPMDC in a statement. "We owe a debt of gratitude for the heroic efforts of the members of the rescue crew and others who rushed to the scene. We look forward to Sean's full recovery and his rapid return to EADS North America."

Alaska Plane Crash

Experts: Downed Plane Carrying Stevens Was Standard Carrier In Alaska

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 10, 2010, 3:39PM

The DeHavilland DHC-3 Otter that went down in Alaska last night, killing former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) and carrying other officials, was a prime example of a sturdy, reliable aircraft wilderness pilots have flown for decades, aviation experts and bush pilots told me today.

A pilot on the ground in Dillingham, Alaska who is familiar with the exact aircraft that crashed told me that the DHC-3 Stevens was flying on was a "beautiful and well-maintained airplane" that was an example of the best of the best available to Alaskan bush pilots.

"It's a really well-built airframe," charter pilot Tom Schlagel told me. In his own Dillingham-based charter business, Schlagel uses a smaller version of the same DeHavilland plane that crashed, though, as he told me, his is "less fancy" than the one that went down last night.

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Alaska Plane Crash

Former Stevens Aide: Report Of Stevens' Death 'Unconfirmed'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 10, 2010, 1:49PM

Fmr. Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (R)

The former aide to Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) who reportedly told KTUU-TV in Alaska that Stevens had died in a plane crash last night is retracting that report.

Dave Dittman, the former aide, provided this statement to TPMDC through a spokesperson after we asked him to confirm the story he told to KTUU:

Dave received a call last night and was told that Senator Stevens had perished in a plane crash. That has not been confirmed. That is just what he was told. In the meantime he has talked with close friends of the family and it has not been confirmed to them either. And as recent as 8:50 AK time this morning it still had not been confirmed.

Alaska Plane Crash

Report: Stevens Family Friend Says Senator Dead In Plane Crash

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 10, 2010, 12:32PM

Fmr. Alaska Senator Ted Stevens (R)

Former Sen. Ted Stevens was killed in a plane crash in Alaska last night, Anchorage, Alaska NBC station KTUU reports.

Dave Dittman, a former aide and longtime family friend of former Sen. Ted Stevens says Stevens was killed in a plane crash near Dillingham Monday night.

There is no further confirmation or explanation in that report.

More on the plane crash here.

Late Update: Through a spokesperson, Dittman later told TPMDC that his original report of Stevens' death was unconfirmed.

Alaska Plane Crash

Former NASA Adminstrator Aboard Downed Plane In Alaska

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 10, 2010, 11:11AM

Former NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe

Former Bush administration NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe was aboard the plane that crashed in remote Alaska last night, according to EADS North America, the defense contractor for which he's served as CEO since October 2009. Former Sen. Ted Stevens was also reportedly on board.

EADS spokesperson Guy Hicks said, "No other details are available at this time."

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