Total CEO killed in Moscow plane crash

Christophe de Margerie, chief executive officer of French oil giant Total, died in a plane crash at a Moscow airport late Monday when the private jet he was using struck a snowplough on takeoff.

A file picture of Christophe de Margerie who died in a plane crash at the Vnukovo airport in Moscow on Monday REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/Files

Russian investigators said that the driver of the snow-clearing machine was drunk and that his actions, along with "an error by air traffic controllers", appeared to be to blame for the crash.

Total confirmed the death of its 63-year-old boss and said its board would call an emergency meeting.

The company issued a statement saying that it confirms with deep regret and great sadness that chairman and CEO Christophe de Margerie died just after 10 pm (Paris time) on October 20 in a private plane crash at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, following a collision with a snow removal machine.

"Four people were found dead at the scene of the accident, including three crew members and Christophe de Margerie."

French President Francois Hollande issued a statement saying he learned of De Margerie's death with "shock and sadness".

Prime Minister Manuel Valls said France had lost "a great captain of industry and a patriot". He called de Margerie "a friend" and expressed "deep sadness" at his death.

Just hours before the crash, De Margerie had met Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at his country residence outside Moscow to discuss foreign investment in Russia, the Vedomosti business daily reported.

In a statement, the Vnukovo airport said in a statement that the Falcon Dassault business aviation jet crashed as it prepared to take off for Paris with one passenger and three crew on board.

"During run-up at 11:57 pm, there was a collision with the airport's snowplough. As a result of the crash, the passenger and all the crew members died," the statement added.

The crash is being investigated by the Interstate Aviation Committee, which probes all Russian air accidents, and experts from Russia's federal aviation agency.