Total Oil CEO Dies In Plane Crash!

Russia's Tass news agency says the CEO of French oil giant Total SA was killed when his corporate jet collided with a snow removal machine during takeoff at Moscow's Vnukovo airport.

Airport officials told Tass that the collision occurred at 11:57 p.m. Moscow time Monday, killing Total CEO Christophe de Margerie and three crew members, all of them French citizens.

A representative of the transport investigative committee tells Tass that the French-made Falcon 50 business jet, headed for France, collided with the snow removal machine during takeoff.

Airport officials tell Tass that visibility at the time was 350 meters (1,150 feet). Airport officials say the driver of the snow removal machine was not hurt.

De Margerie, 63, rose through the ranks at Total to become CEO in 2007.