Moscow - Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent his condolences over the tragic death of Total's Chief Executive Officer Christophe de Margerie, the news agency TASS cited Kremlin's spokesman as saying.
“Vladimir Putin has long known De Margerie, had a close working relationship with him,” TASS cited Dmitry Peskov as saying.
De Margerie was killed when a business jet collided with a snow plough during takeoff at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport overnight, the company and airport officials said.
“The president highly appreciated De Margerie's business skills, his continued commitment to the development of not only bilateral Russian-French relations but also on multifaceted levels,” Peskov said, according to TASS.
The collision occurred late on Monday, just minutes before midnight Moscow time, Vnukovo International Airport officials said in a statement. The Dassault Falcon business jet carrying De Margerie had been due to travel to Paris.
“Total confirms with deep regret and great sadness that Chairman and CEO Christophe de Margerie died just after 10pm (Paris time) on October 20 in a private plane crash at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow, following a collision with a snow removal machine,” the company said in a statement.
The plane's three crew also died, said Total. - Reuters