Reports indicate that Sean O’Keefe, 54, former NASA administrator and current North American CEO of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), survived the crash of a private plane in Alaska on 9 August. The plane was carrying nine people, including former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, who was killed. NASA has said it will not release a statement until more is known.

O’Keefe was Administrator of NASA from 2001 to 2005, following his nomination by President George W. Bush. Among his achievements are steering the organization through the Columbia space shuttle disaster in 2003 and the extensive investigation that followed. He also wrestled cost overruns in the construction of the International Space Station and oversaw the agency during the development and successful landings of the Mars Exploration Rovers.

EADS is a European aerospace, defense, and telecommunication corporation that develops aircraft, missiles, rockets, and satellites.

Article updated: 3:35 EST

Image: NASA