Czech Republic’s richest man, Petr Kellner has died in a helicopter crash in Alaska.
In a statement released 29th March, the billionaire’s financial group, PPF, announced his death, along with that of four others. The group added that the National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the crash.
According to Alaska State Troopers, Kellner and his group had been on a heli-skiing trip – which involves off-trail, downhill skiing or snowboarding reached by helicopter – instead of a ski lift.
The troopers say the 56-year-old businessman, was aboard an Airbus AS350 B3 helicopter when it crashed under unknown circumstances near the Knik Glacier on 27th March. They added that a sixth person on board was in a serious but stable condition at an Anchorage hospital.
Others killed in the crash include Gregory Harms, 52, of Colorado; Benjamin Larochaix, 50, also of the Czech Republic; and two Alaskans, Sean McMannany, 38, of Girdwood, and the pilot, Zachary Russel, 33.
Kellner was one of Europe’s richest men with a net worth estimated by Forbes to be $17.5bn.
Profile of Mr. Kellner
Mr Kellner made his first fortune in the 1990s through the launch of an investment fund that he used to buy a controlling stake in the country’s largest insurance company.
He made headlines last October after acquiring a major European broadcast network, Central European Media Enterprises, for $1.1bn. The acquisition prompted fears in the Czech Republic that the network might lose independence.
However, in a statement released at the time, Mr. Kellner assured the public that the acquisition was driven by “a sense of responsibility”. Additionally, he vowed that the network would retain its objectivity.
Also, his PPF Group donated millions of respirators and masks as well as thousands of coronavirus testing kits to help the Czech Republic in the pandemic.
In the statement announcing his death, the PPF disclosed that the funeral would be held with only close family members.
“His professional life was known for his incredible work ethic and creativity, but his private life belonged to his family,”
Kellner was married with four children, according to his company’s website.
“Loyal and frequent’ guest at the lodge
The Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, which offers weekly packages of $15,000 per person for shared accommodations has expressed its sorrow about the crash.
The lodge revealed in a statement that Kellner and Larochaix “were loyal and frequent” guests
“This news is devastating to our staff, the community in which we operate, and the families of the deceased.”
It added that it was the first time in its 17 years in business “we’ve had to face an event of this measure”.
Knik Glacier, in the northern Chugach Mountains, is a destination for sightseeing flights and, in summer, hiking and boating tours. It, and other glaciers in the area, have been the sites of numerous military and civilian air crashes over several decades.
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