Plane Crashes In Alaska With 8 On Board

Former Senator Ted Stevens feared to be a passenger, local TV reports

A plane believed to be carrying eight people has crashed in southwest Alaska, authorities said on Tuesday.

It was feared that former Sen. Ted Stevens was on board the flight, but officials have not been able to confirm that, local station KTUU TV reported.

Alaska National Guard spokesman Maj. Guy Hayes said the Guard was called to the area about 20 miles north of Dillingham at about 7 p.m. Monday after a passing aircraft saw the wreckage.

There were possible fatalities, Hayes said. State and federal officials said severe weather has hampered the rescue operation.

About five good Samaritans were on scene early Tuesday helping the crash victims, Hayes said. He said he was told by Alaska State Troopers that there were "eight or nine" people on board, though a spokeswoman for the troopers, Megan Peters, refused to comment.

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