Plane Carrying Former Senator Ted Stevens Crashes in Alaska
According to reports, a float plane crashed yesterday just outside of Dillingham, Alaska killing five people and injuring four. Former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens was among the victims. One of the survivors is reported to include ex-NASA head Sean O’Keefe, a longtime friend of Senator Stevens.
The plane, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, is a 1957 DeHavilland DHC-3T that was retrofitted with a turboprop and belonged to the Anchorage-based communications firm CGI.
According to NTSB chairwoman, Deborah Hersman, said the passengers had eaten lunch at a lodge and boarded the float plane between 3 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. for the flight to a salmon fishing camp.
Hersman further stated that lodge operators called the fish camp at 6 p.m. to find out when the group would be returning for dinner, but learned that the party never arrived. Civilian aircraft were then reportedly dispatched and quickly discovered the downed plane close to the lodge.
Clifford Law Offices has experience handling small Alaska plane crashes and turboprop fishing plane accidents. To read more about the portion of our aviation practice focused on small plane crashes please go here.