# Fmr. Sen. Ted Stevens killed in plane crash \[edited title\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 10, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818 "2010-08-10T13:37:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/21 "2010-08-10T17:21:26Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > You know, the crash happened many hours ago, and authorities have been on the scene for quite some time. They _know_ there are four survivors. Do they really have to hold the news up for next of kin ID or have they (the families/authorities/media) put the kibosh on it? Why don’t they just name the survivors? Do they _really_ not know if Stevens was on the plane? Do they not require flight plans in Alaska or something? :dubious: I’m not being impatient; I just think that we’d have known this info already if there wasn’t something going on. Notifying next of kin is the law, I believe, or at least common sense courtesy. Would you like to find out that your loved one was dead on Fox News or CNN? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/22 "2010-08-10T17:22:07Z")
I think those that had family members on the plane deserve to be told of their fates before the rest of us are. I can wait until they are fully accounted for and all the families told before my curiosity is satisfied. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/23 "2010-08-10T17:27:21Z")
[Sounds like it’s confirmed Stevens was killed.](http://www.ktuu.com/global/Story.asp?s=12952729) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/24 "2010-08-10T17:41:09Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [Sounds like it’s confirmed Stevens was killed.](http://www.ktuu.com/global/Story.asp?s=12952729) I don’t think we can take that information as gospel. Somebody called Dittman (who is a well-known pollster in AK) last night and told him this news, but nobody is confirming it. It’s irresponsible for KTUU to report it as fact. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/25 "2010-08-10T18:18:59Z")
Okay, well, CNN has confirmed that Stevens was one of the people killed. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/26 "2010-08-10T18:19:19Z")
CNN has just reported that Senator Stevens has been confirmed dead. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/27 "2010-08-10T18:24:48Z")
[CBS news link](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/10/national/main6760221.shtml) confirming death of Stevens ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/28 "2010-08-10T18:33:59Z")
According this to [twitter](http://nasawatch.com/archives/2010/08/sean-okeefe-and.html), Sean O’Keefe and his son Jonathan survived the plane crash. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/29 "2010-08-10T18:35:44Z")
Oops. Should have checked here first. [GD thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12786524#post12786524). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/30 "2010-08-10T18:41:59Z")
I really have mixed feelings about the guy. He was well-respected by both sides of the political spectrum in Alaska, bringing in tons of money, creating jobs with legislation that favored the oil pipeline and offshore drilling, and other legislation that supported Alaska Natives in their efforts to incorporate and maintain small business status. He was also an aggressive supporter of air safety, which, in Alaska, has saved countless lives. On the other hand, he acquired the arrogance and self-entitlement mentality of so many of our elected officials, who seem to forget who it is that hired them. It’s something that I find unforgiveable in any politician. For Alaskans, however, the positives over a 40-year career far outweigh the negatives at the end, which were minor in the grand scheme of government corruption. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/31 "2010-08-10T18:47:06Z")
I changed the thread title to reflect updated info. Ellen ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/32 "2010-08-10T18:49:53Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > > [@An\_Arky](#): > > > > You know, the crash happened many hours ago, and authorities have been on the scene for quite some time. They _know_ there are four survivors. Do they really have to hold the news up for next of kin ID or have they (the families/authorities/media) put the kibosh on it? Why don’t they just name the survivors? Do they _really_ not know if Stevens was on the plane? Do they not require flight plans in Alaska or something? :dubious: I’m not being impatient; I just think that we’d have known this info already if there wasn’t something going on. > > Notifying next of kin is the law, I believe, or at least common sense courtesy. Would you like to find out that your loved one was dead on Fox News or CNN? Of course not; but why would it be wrong to ID survivors? My brother died last week in Hong Kong - some random dude (not the authorities)called me and told me; what’s the difference? ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/33 "2010-08-10T18:52:13Z")
Because if you hear on TV, “The plane crash had 4 survivors; their names are Jack, Johnny, Jane, and Janelle” and you’re the wife of Bob, who was also on the plane, you are being informed of your husband’s demise in a very bad way. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/34 "2010-08-10T19:02:16Z")
No one once referred to him (to clue in people who may not be familiar with him) as “Fmr. Sen. Ted Stevens, of ‘series of tubes’ fame”? Because that’s how I’ll always remember him, and that’s such a Doper meme … ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/35 "2010-08-10T19:26:43Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > CNN has just reported that Senator Stevens has been confirmed dead. That’s horrible. Didn’t care for him much at times, but no one deserves to die like that. ☹ I’m sure he did a lot of good for Alaska. He’ll be missed. What are the odds of his wife and himself being killed in separate airplane crashes? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/36 "2010-08-10T19:40:39Z")
Stevens was a decorated transport pilot in World War II. Stevens served in the China-Burma-India theater with the Fourteenth Air Force Transport Section, which supported the “Flying Tigers”, from 1944 to 1946. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for flying behind enemy lines, and the Air Medal. His luck finally ran out today. He lead one heck of a life. > **[Ted Stevens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Stevens)** > > Theodore Fulton Stevens Sr. (November 18, 1923 – August 9, 2010) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Senator from Alaska from 1968 to 2009. He was the longest-serving Republican Senator in history at the time he left office. Stevens was the president pro tempore of the United States Senate in the 108th and 109th Congresses from 2003 to 2007, and was the third U.S. Senator to hold the title of president pro tempore emeritus. He was previously Solicitor of the Interior Ste... ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/37 "2010-08-10T19:48:17Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > That’s horrible. > > Didn’t care for him much at times, but no one deserves to die like that. ☹ Well, it’s sad. I wouldn’t call it ‘horrible’, though. I’ve pointed out many times that small aircraft are pretty darned safe. But sometimes they do crash; and last time I checked, about 20% of the crashes involve at least one fatality. (Source: The Nall Report from several years ago.) As far as ‘deserving to die like that’, I can think of worse ways. Like being run over by an ice cream truck. Still it’s sad and tragic for his family and friends, no matter the cause. On preview: **aceplace57** points out his flying career. It seems a better end for him to die in a plane, than any of a number of other ways. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/38 "2010-08-10T19:51:26Z")
[QUOTE=Mahaloth] I’m sure he did a lot of good for Alaska. [/quote] Yes, he was to Alaska what Robert Byrd was to West Virginia - a bringer of massive amounts of pork to his home state, though in the end he wasn’t able to get the $400 million for the “Bridge To Nowhere”. No doubt there will be lots of fond eulogies, but Stevens was the kind of politician the nation as a whole does not need. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/39 "2010-08-10T19:53:14Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > > [@Mahaloth](#): > > > > That’s horrible. > > > > Didn’t care for him much at times, but no one deserves to die like that. ☹ > > Well, it’s sad. I wouldn’t call it ‘horrible’, though. > > I’ve pointed out many times that small aircraft are pretty darned safe. But sometimes they do crash; and last time I checked, about 20% of the crashes involve at least one fatality. (Source: The Nall Report from several years ago.) As far as ‘deserving to die like that’, I can think of worse ways. Like being run over by an ice cream truck. Still it’s sad and tragic for his family and friends, no matter the cause. > > On preview: **aceplace57** points out his flying career. It seems a better end for him to die in a plane, than any of a number of other ways. I would agree. He was a pilot and an outdoors guy (when he wasn’t in WDC) and died with his boots on. Better than being connected to “a series of tubes”, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818/40 "2010-08-10T20:01:08Z")
Oy, veh… Why do they always have to bring up the lack of a flight plan as if it’s something sinister? They’re not required for a VFR flight. In this case, I think I heard it was a 35-mile flight. I wouldn’t file one. The point of a flight plan is to have an idea of where to look if a plane goes missing. Since it was a short flight that (I presume) flew a regular route, a flight plan isn’t needed in VFR. And the wreckage was found quickly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fmr-sen-ted-stevens-killed-in-plane-crash-edited-title/549818.md?page=3)