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Total's CEO Christophe de Margerie dies in Moscow plane crash Total's CEO Christophe de Margerie dies in Moscow plane crash
(about 3 hours later)
Christophe de Margerie, the chief executive of French oil company Total, has died in an air crash in Moscow.Christophe de Margerie, the chief executive of French oil company Total, has died in an air crash in Moscow.
Airport spokeswoman Elena Krylova said: "Tonight, a plane crashed when it collided with a snow-clearing machine. Three crew members and a passenger died." His corporate jet collided with a snow plough and then was engulfed in flames. All four people on board were killed.
"I can confirm that the passenger was Total's head de Margerie," she said. The driver of the snow plough was drunk, according to Russian investigators.
Mr de Margerie, 63, had been chief executive of Europe's third largest oil company since 2007. Mr de Margerie, 63, had been chief executive of Europe's third largest oil company since 2007. He was highly regarded within the oil industry.
The collision happened as Mr de Margerie's private jet was trying to take off at Moscow's Vnukovo airport. 'Huge loss'
Mr de Margerie joined Total Group after graduating from the Ecole Superieure de Commerce in Paris in 1974.
"France is losing an extraordinary business leader who turned Total into a world giant," French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said in a statement.
"France is losing a great industry captain and a patriot."
At the company, where he had spent his entire career, he was nicknamed "Big Moustache".
John Hofmeister, former president of Shell Oil, told the BBC: "It's a huge loss to the industry and its future focus.
"What he has done for Total in repositioning the company to return to integrity and sound operations is deeply respected and highly regarded."
It is thought Mr de Margerie had been attending a meeting of foreign investors with the Russian Prime Minister.
Russian investments
Total is an important player in the Russian energy market and Mr de Margerie was a staunch defender of maintaining ties, despite Western sanctions against Moscow over its actions in Ukraine.
Total is one of the biggest foreign investors in Russia and is planning to double its output from the country by 2020.
It is working on the Yamal project, a $27bn joint venture to extract natural gas in northwest Siberia.
During his time at the helm of Total Mr de Margerie successfully defended the company against allegations of corruption around the UN oil-for-food programme in Iraq.
He maintained the company's investments in Burma and Iran despite US sanctions against those countries.
Mr de Margerie's jet had been due to fly to Paris from Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport.
Vnukovo, is located to the southwest of Moscow and is used by President Vladimir Putin and other government officials.
Russia's emergencies ministry said in a statement the accident had involved a Falcon-50 plane shortly before midnight local time (20:00 GMT) on Monday.Russia's emergencies ministry said in a statement the accident had involved a Falcon-50 plane shortly before midnight local time (20:00 GMT) on Monday.
The jet had been due to fly to Paris. The three crew members were all French. "At the moment, it is already established that the driver of the snow plough was in a condition of alcoholic intoxication," said Russia's Investigative Committee, a federal agency which answers to President Vladimir Putin.
Reports say the visibility at airport was 350m (1,150ft).Reports say the visibility at airport was 350m (1,150ft).
An investigation is now under way.An investigation is now under way.
'Huge loss'
The Total executive was highly regarded within the oil industry. At the company, where he had spent his entire career, he was nicknamed "Big Moustache".
He joined Total Group after graduating from the Ecole Superieure de Commerce in Paris in 1974.
John Hofmeister, former president of Shell Oil told the BBC: "It's a huge loss to the industry and its future focus.
"What he has done for Total in repositioning the company to return to integrity and sound operations is deeply respected and highly regarded."
During his time at the helm of Total Mr Margerie successfully defended the company against allegations of corruption around the UN oil-for-food programme in Iraq.
He maintained the company's investments in Burma and Iran despite US sanctions against those countries. This year he argued Europe should maintain its energy relationship with Russia amid the conflict in Ukraine.
Total is one of the world's leading oil and gas company, operating in more than 50 countries.