CEO of French oil giant Total killed in Moscow plane crash

MOSCOW, Oct 21 (AFP): Russian and French experts were investigating Tuesday a plane crash at a Moscow airport which killed the CEO of French oil giant Total, Christophe de Margerie, whose private jet struck a snowplough on takeoff.

Russian investigators said the driver of the snow-clearing machine was drunk and that his actions, along with "an error by air traffic controllers", appeared to have led to the crash -- a claim disputed by the driver's lawyer.

They also blamed senior airport officials for causing the accident through "criminal negligence", and said several executives would be suspended.

At Total, one of the world's biggest oil companies, staff at its Paris headquarters observed a minute's silence for their 63-year-old boss known affectionately as the "Big Moustache" because of his distinctive facial hair.