Former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens Dies In Plane Crash

A plane carrying former Sen. Ted Stevens and eight others crashed in remote southwest Alaska, killing the longtime Republican lawmaker and four other people.

A family spokesman, Mitch Rose, told The Associated Press that Stevens family has been notified about the 86-year-old was among those killed.

Ex-NASA chief Sean O'Keefe was also believed to be aboard, but it was unclear whether he was among the dead.

Rescuers arrived on helicopter early Tuesday and were giving medical care to survivors, Alaska National Guard spokesman Maj. Guy Hayes said. He offered no additional details, except that there were potential fatalities.

Alaska officials reported that nine people were aboard the aircraft and NTSB spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz told The Associated Press in Washington that "it appears that there are five fatalities."