The CEO of the North American division of Airbus parent company EADS survived a late-night Aug. 9 plane crash in southwestern Alaska that claimed five lives, among them former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens.
Sean O’Keefe and his son survived the Monday night crash, EADS North America said in a press statement released yesterday afternoon, but their condition was not announced at press time.
Company Chairman Ralph Crosby issued the following statement: “It was with a great sense of relief and gratitude that we learned that Sean, and his son, Kevin, survived the aircraft crash in Alaska. We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of those less fortunate in this terrible accident.”
Stevens, a former Republican Senator from Alaska, was killed in the crash, according to a family spokesman. He was the longest-serving Republican U.S. Senator in history.
Marion Blakey, president of the Aerospace Industries Association, a lobbying group, said in a statement that “the U.S. warfighter had no better ally than Ted Stevens” while he was in the Senate.
“Working together on the Senate Appropriations Committee with his long time friend, Senator Daniel Inouye, Stevens crafted legislation that ensured our armed services were equipped to face any threat,” she said.
O’Keefe has served as Navy secretary and NASA chief. He assumed responsibilities as chief executive of EADS North America in November. He has been leading the company’s effort to win a multibillion-dollar contract to build a new fleet of aerial tankers for the Air Force.