Five Killed as Plane Crashes in Moscow, Total CEO Among Victims

At least five people are dead after a private jet crashed at Moscow's Vnukovo airport also claiming the life of French oil company Total's CEO Christophe de Margerie.

The plane collided with a snow-clearing machine as it was taking off, leaving the driver, three crew members and a passenger, who was De Margerie, dead, the BBC quotes the airport's spokesperson Elena Krylova as saying.

Total has confirmed the death of its chief executive in a statement.

De Margerie's private plane was to fly to Paris just minutes before midnight (23:57) Moscow time on Monday.

A joint investigation is to be carried out by the Interstate Aviation Committee and Russia's Rosaviatsiya.

Christophe de Margerie, who had assumed the top office at Total since 2007, had spent four decades working for Total Group.

Total is Europe's third-largest oil company, operating in 50 countries.