CEO of oil giant Total killed in Moscow plane crash

USPA News - Chairman and CEO Christophe de Margerie of French oil giant Total was among at least four people killed when his business plane collided with a snowplow while attempting to take off from a Moscow airport, emergency officials and the company confirmed on Tuesday. The accident happened at approximately 11:57 p.m. local time on Monday when the Falcon 50 aircraft was attempting to take off from Runway 1 at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow.

De Margerie, 63, and three crew members were on board the business plane, the oil giant said in a statement. A Vnukovo Airport spokesperson said the accident happened when the aircraft - while attempting to take off - collided with a snowplow belonging to the airport. Visibility at the time of the crash was about 350 meters (1,150 feet). "Search and rescue units were alerted and immediately began to extinguish the fire," the spokesperson said. Total confirmed its chairman and chief executive officer was among the four people killed, but did not identify the other victims. "The thoughts of the management and employees of the Group go out to Christophe de Margerie`s wife, children and loved ones as well as to the families of the four other victims," the company said. Total`s statement said the driver of the snowplow was also found dead at the scene, but the airport`s press service denied that, saying four people had been killed. "As a result of the collision, the passenger and all crew members were killed. The driver of the snowplow vehicle was not injured," the airport spokesperson said. Russia`s Emergencies Ministry provided no death toll but said there were no casualties on the ground. Vnukovo Airport was temporarily closed after Monday`s crash but operations resumed at about 1:34 a.m. local time after officials determined it was safe for planes to take off and land.