5 Killed, 4 Survive in Crash of Ted Stevens' Plane

Five people are thought to be dead in a plane that went down in rural Alaska last night with former Sen. Ted Stevens believed to be aboard, reports the AP. The NTSB reports that there are four survivors, but it's not known if the senator is among them. Former NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe was also reported aboard the plane; his fate is also unknown.

Five good Samaritans were on the scene helping survivors as rescue crews struggled to reach the crash scene, which was first reported at 7pm yesterday. An Alaska National Guard spokesman said the Guard was called to the area in southwest Alaska after a passing aircraft saw the downed plane, but severe weather has hampered search and rescue efforts. (More Ted Stevens stories.)