ANCHORAGE (LALATE) – A Sean O’Keefe (EADS) plane crash has been confirmed. Sean O’Keefe was a passenger with Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) on the plane which crashed Monday night near Dillingham, Alaska.

Former NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe was among the 8 to 9 passengers. There are fatalities and survivors, claim locals at the crash site; the death toll is unknown. O’Keefe is now chief executive of EADS North America. EADS company spokesman Guy Hicks issued confirmation about O’Keefe Tuesday morning.

“Sean O’Keefe, EADS North America’s CEO, was a passenger on a private aircraft that crashed in Alaska last night. Local authorities are reporting that there are survivors and a rescue operation is underway. No other details are available at this time.”

Alaska telecommunications company GCI owns the plane and the lodge where Stevens was heading. News reports state that O’Keefe, who previously was on staff with Stevens, goes on a fishing trip with Ted Stevens each year. The National Weather Service reported rain and fog at Dillingham and poor visibility near the crash site. The plane crash was 17 miles from Dillingham at roughly 7 pm local time Monday.

For continuing breaking news coverage of the crash click here: http://news.lalate.com/category/ted-stevens.

File photo above