Former NASA head Sean O’Keefe, son return home area after surviving Stevens’ plane crash

Ex-NASA head O’Keefe back in DC after plane crash

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Former NASA head Sean O’Keefe and his son Kevin have returned home to the Washington, D.C., area after surviving the Aug. 9 plane crash that killed former Sen. Ted Stevens.

A statement issued Thursday by Paul Pastorek on behalf of the O’Keefe family said Sean O’Keefe was transferred this week from Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage “to an undisclosed hospital.” His son was released from the Anchorage hospital on Aug. 17.

Pastorek says the elder O’Keefe’s “prognosis is excellent” and “doctors say there is every reason to believe he will recover fully.” The statement says his son’s recovery is also progressing well.

Five people were killed and four injured when the plane crashed while flying to a fishing camp near Dillingham in southwest Alaska.

Lobbyist Jim Morhard and 13-year-old Willy Phillips Jr. also survived.