A plane crash in Germany killed three including one of Russia’s richest women.
Natalia Fileva, 55, was travelling in a single-engine six-seat Epic-LT aircraft which crashed in a field at about 3.30pm local time, shortly before it was due to land at Egelsbach, about six miles south of Frankfurt.
German police have said there were three people including the pilot on the flight, which left the French city of Cannes on Sunday afternoon.
Ms Fileva was the co-owner of Russian airline operator S7 Group and her death was confirmed by the firm’s press service.In a statement, they said: “S7 Group team extends sincere and heartfelt condolences to Mrs Fileva’s family and loved ones.
“The memory of her as an inspiring and sympathetic leader and a wonderful person will forever stay in the hearts of all S7 Group employees.
“It is an irreparable loss.”
S7 grew into a major carrier in the 1990s and is one of Russia’s second-biggest airlines after Aeroflot. It is based at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport and flies to 150 destinations in 35 countries.
Mrs Fileva was the wife of company chairman Vladislav Filev and a major shareholder in the company.
She had a fortune estimated by business publication Forbes.ru at $600m (£460m).
Witnesses told the Frankfurter Rundschau they had seen a cloud of smoke in the sky just after the crash.
The identities of those on board have not been officially confirmed but police said they were thought to be Russian citizens.
Two other people died after their car collided with a police vehicle heading to the crash scene, according to German news agency DPA.