Friends of former Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) are concerned for his safety after a plane registered to the company whose lodge he was scheduled to visit crashed Monday night in a remote area about 325 miles southwest of Anchorage, The Anchorage Daily News reported Tuesday.
Eight people were believed to be on board -- an Alaska National Guard spokesman said there are possible fatalities, but that there are good Samaritans on the scene reportedly helping crash victims.
According to the Anchorage Daily News the aircraft is a 1957 DeHavilland DHC-3 Otter registered to Anchorage-based communications company GCI. Friends of the senator told the newspaper he was scheduled to travel Monday to Agulowak Lodge, which is owned by the firm. One friend told the newspaper he has gone to see Stevens' wife to comfort her and get more information.
The crash occurred in poor weather near the town of Dillingham, about 300 miles southwest of Anchorage, on Monday night.
"The plane was reportedly carrying eight passengers and there are potential fatalities," the Alaska National Guard said in a statement.
