8/10/2010

A personal friend of former Senator Ted Stevens, who has asked to not be named has confirmed that Stevens was scheduled to be on a GCI plane headed to the company’s lodge near Dillingham.  Meanwhile, another U.S. government official, who also wished to remain anonymous has told the Associated Press that authorities have been told that Stevens is among the passengers on the plane.

The official says Stevens’ condition is unknown.  A National Transportation Safety Board investigative team has been dispatched from Washington, D.C., and was expected on the ground Tuesday morning.  The federal official declined to be publicly identified because the crash response and investigation are under way. The Alaska National Guard has said there are possible fatalities.

Meanwhile, Alaska State Trooper spokesperson Megan Peters was contacted this morning.  She said no information regarding the crash or the passengers is being released.

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A National Transportation Safety Board investigative team has been dispatched from Washington, D.C., and was expected on the ground Tuesday morning.

Maj. Guy Hayes with the Alaska National Guard said there are possible fatalities.

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Stevens survived another similar crash on Dec. 4, 1978, when a Learjet carrying Stevens and his wife crashed at Anchorage International Airport, killing five people. Stevens’ wife Ann, was killed.

Filed under: News by KSRM News Desk