5 dead, 4 survive Alaska plane crash, O'Keefe reportedly passenger
- By BECKY BOHRER
- Associated Press writers
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A plane carrying nine people — including former Sen. Ted Stevens and former LSU chancellor and NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe — crashed in southwest Alaska, killing five people on board, authorities said Tuesday.
It was unclear whether Stevens or O'Keefe were among the dead.
"The LSU community is deeply concerned about Sean and his family at this difficult time of uncertainty," said LSU Chancellor Michael Martin said in a statement. "Sean is a valued member of the LSU family and our thoughts and prayers are with him. We also offer our prayers to everyone affected by this tragedy."
Reports from officials in Alaska were that nine people were aboard the aircraft and that "it appears that there are five fatalities," NTSB spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz told The Associated Press in Washington.
A U.S. government official told The Associated Press that Alaska authorities have been told that Stevens, a former longtime Republican senator, was on the plane. The official, who spoke on grounds of anonymity, says Stevens' condition is unknown.
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