A 1957 DeHavilland Otter has gone down, 17 miles north of Dillingham with 9 passengers aboard. They included former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), and former NASA chief Sean O'Keefe.
UPDATE from KTUU.COM: ANCHORAGE, Alaska – 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. Nine people were on board, including former NASA Chief Sean O'Keefe. Five people were killed in the crash, but other identities were not known, nor are the conditions of the survivors.
From ADN.com: Family spokesman Mitch Rose has confirmed that former Sen. Ted Stevens died in the plane crash. "He did not survive," Rose said.
Also from ADN: Ex-NASA chief Sean O'Keefe was also aboard, and the NASA Watch website is reporting that he and his son survived the crash ... Three survivors are being taken in two helicopters this morning to Dillingham, where a U.S. Coast Guard C-130 will fly them to Anchorage for treatment, said Alaska National Guard spokeswoman Kalei Brooks.
Ted Stevens, the longest serving Republican Senator in U.S. history, was voted "Alaskan of the Century" in 2000, and is a hero to many of us. Most of what you in the Lower 48 heard about him, during his trial in 2008, was wrong. The overturning of his conviction & dismissal of the charges against him was proof of that.
He was a WWII pilot, flying over the hump, and was one of two survivors of a Lear jet crash in 1978. His first wife was killed in that accident. The Anchorage airport is named after him, and it seems strangely fitting that his ending would involve aircraft.
May he rest in peace, and may God bless the survivors and the families of all the victims.
URGENT CALL TO REPENTANCE: All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord. And all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before Thee. For the Kingdom is the Lord’s and He rules among the nations. (Psalm 22:27-28)
3 comments:
This news makes my heart so sad! He was a friend to all Alaskans, I believe.
I am praying for his family and those who survived the crash.
I sent your blog address to a Norwegian blogger that stands up for America. I sent him a note that I appreciate that he defends us & Israel. I need to play catch up on your blog tonight!! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.
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