French Energy CEO Killed in Collision at Moscow Airport
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ERIC FEFERBERG/AFP/Getty Images(MOSCOW) — Christophe de Margerie, the CEO of French energy giant Total, was killed on Tuesday when his corporate jet and a snowplow collided at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport.
No other passengers were on board the jet with de Margerie and three crew members at the time of the crash. All four onboard were killed.
The plane was apparently taking off when it struck the snowplow. Russian investigators have accused the snowplow driver of being drunk, a claim the man’s lawyer denied.
De Margerie was a staunch defender of Russian energy politics and an opponent of Western sanctions against Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a telegram to French President Francois Hollande that he was “shocked” when he heard about the crash, and offered condolences to de Margerie’s family and friends. “We have lost a true friend of our country but he will remain in our memories,” Putin said.
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