Claude Guillemot, the co-founder of video game giant Ubisoft, was killed in a plane crash in France on Friday evening, according to the Saint-Nazaire prosecutor's office. The accident also claimed the life of flight instructor Marc Guillet.
Crash Details
The twin-motor Cessna 421 crashed into a field near La Baule-Escoublac Airport on the Atlantic coast just before it was due to land. The aircraft had taken off at approximately 5:25 p.m. local time and crashed around 5:50 p.m., reported Ouest-France. An airport official told The Associated Press that the plane was on approach when it went down.
Both Guillemot and Guillet were licensed and experienced pilots, the prosecutor's office confirmed. A source close to the investigation told Le Figaro that Guillemot was piloting the plane at the time of the incident.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Emergency services arrived to find the plane on fire. The blaze was quickly brought under control by 61 firefighters who were mobilized to the scene. Law enforcement initially searched for three people before focusing on the two victims found at the site, according to Le Figaro.
The prosecutor's office announced an investigation for involuntary manslaughter, jointly entrusted to the La Baule police station and the Air Transport Gendarmerie. The investigation aims to determine the circumstances and causes of the accident and confirm the identities of the victims. Autopsies of both bodies will take place at the Nantes Forensic Institute on Thursday, June 25.
Tribute to Claude Guillemot
Claude Guillemot co-founded Ubisoft, the video game company best known for the Assassin's Creed series. Ubisoft released a statement expressing deep sadness: "Ubisoft was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Claude Guillemot, co-founder of the group and chairman of Guillemot Corp, in an accident. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. No further statements will be made at this time."
The crash has sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, as Guillemot was a legendary figure in video game development.
