MOSCOW, Oct 21 - The chief executive of French oil major Total, Christophe de Margerie, was killed in an airplane collision with a snowplow at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport, airport spokeswoman Elena Krylova said on Tuesday. "Tonight, a plane crashed when it collided with a snow-clearing machine. Three crew members and a passenger died. I can confirm that the passenger was Total's head de Margerie," she said. The collision occurred during takeoff of the Dassault Falcon business jet in which de Margerie was a passenger late on Monday, just minutes before midnight Moscow time, an airport statement said. The plane was due to travel to Paris. Total representatives were not immediately reachable for comment. De Margerie was on a list of attendees at a Russian government meeting on foreign investment in Gorki, near Moscow, on Monday. De Margerie, 63, a graduate of the Ecole Superieure de Commerce business school in Paris, became chief executive officer of Total in February 2007, taking on the additional role of chairman in May 2010, after previously running its exploration and production division. Total SA is France's second-biggest listed company with a market value of 102 billion euros and the West's fourth biggest oil and gas group. The company cut its 2017 oil output goal last month and said it would step up asset sales and overhaul exploration. Like other big oil companies, Total has been under pressure from shareholders to cut costs and raise dividends as rising costs in the industry and weaker oil prices squeeze profitability. De Margerie said in July that he should be judged based on new projects launched under his watch, such as a string of African fields. He also said then that Total would seek a successor from within the company rather than an outsider. Total is one of the top foreign investors in Russia, but its future there grew cloudy after the July 17 downing of a Malaysian passenger airliner over Ukrainian territory held by pro-Russian rebels worsened the oil-rich country's relations with the West and raised the threat of deeper sanctions. Total said last month that sanctions would not stop it working on the Yamal project - a $27 billion joint venture investment to tap vast natural gas reserves in northwest Siberia that aims to double Russia's stake in the fast-growing market for liquefied natural gas. De Margerie said then that Europe could not live without Russian gas, adding that there was no reason to do so.
More
Passengers eager to try out Ho Chi Minh City’s first metro line
All the components and procedures related to the project will be completed by December 15
Read more
Four tourists die after suspected tainted alcohol poisoning in Laos
A young Australian woman was the latest confirmed death
20 hours agoIndian tycoon Gautam Adani charged in US over $265 million bribery scheme
Arrest warrants have been issued in the U.S. for Adani and his nephew Sagar
20 hours agoAustralian eyes $30m fine for social media flouting under-16s ban
The legislation would force social media firms to take steps to prevent those under 16 years of age from accessing platforms
20 hours agoBanana taped to a wall sells for $6.2 mn in New York
The buyer is a cryptocurrency entrepreneur
1 day agoCanada AI project hopes to help reverse mass insect extinction
Scientists have warned the world is facing its biggest mass extinction event since the dinosaur age
20 hours agoHighlights
Vietnam's manufacturers feel the heat from China
Low-cost Chinese imports have stolen market share from local producers
Combating wastefulness an urgent task for Vietnam
18 hours agoLatest news
Vietnam's manufacturers feel the heat from China
Low-cost Chinese imports have stolen market share from local producers
Scientists obtain image of a star on the precipice of disaster
The dying star, named WOH G64, is located about 160,000 light-years from Earth
Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News — November 22
Good morning from Vietnam!
Combating wastefulness an urgent task for Vietnam
Examples of missed opportunities abound across the country
Politburo gives nod to financial centers in Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City
The Politburo has green-lighted a comprehensive international financial hub in Ho Chi Minh City and a regional financial center in Da Nang
Canada AI project hopes to help reverse mass insect extinction
Scientists have warned the world is facing its biggest mass extinction event since the dinosaur age
Malaysia hosts highest-level welcome ceremony for Vietnamese Party chief
Vietnam and Malaysia established diplomatic ties on March 30, 1973
Indian tycoon Gautam Adani charged in US over $265 million bribery scheme
Arrest warrants have been issued in the U.S. for Adani and his nephew Sagar
Australian eyes $30m fine for social media flouting under-16s ban
The legislation would force social media firms to take steps to prevent those under 16 years of age from accessing platforms
Four tourists die after suspected tainted alcohol poisoning in Laos
A young Australian woman was the latest confirmed death