Russian billionaire, 53, is killed in helicopter crash near Monaco
Mystery has surrounded the death of a Russian billionaire after his helicopter crashed in good weather near Monaco.
Businessman Vyacheslav Taran, 53, died after the helicopter plunged to the ground near the resort town of Villefranche-sur-Mer after taking off from Lausanne in Switzerland.
Mystery has shrouded Taran's death, as the crash occurred during good weather - and after another reportedly passenger cancelled last minute.
Taran, the founder of trading and investment platform Libertex and Forex Club, was flying from Lausanne with an experience pilot in a single-engined H130 helicopter when the crash occurred at around 1pm on November 25.
A 35-year-old French pilot was also killed in the helicopter crash.
The Deputy Public Prosecutor of Nice visited the scene and said that the fault of a third party could not be ruled out.
Another unidentified passenger had been due to join Taran on the flight on the VIP helicopter, but they cancelled last minute, local media report.
Taran - a highly successful offshore specialist who has lived in Monaco for the past 10 years - is married to Russian wife Olga, founder of Hello Monaco media, and the couple have three children.
In Monaco, there has been an outpouring of condolences to his wife and family.
'It is with great sadness that Libertex Group confirms the death of its co-founder and chairman of board of directors, Vyacheslav Taran, after a helicopter crash that took place en route to Monaco on Friday, 25 November 2022,' said a statement from the financier's company.
'The Board of Directors of Libertex Group and company employees extend their most heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the Taran family.'
Taran was 'well-known and highly respected businessman, described as kind-hearted, polite and humble by everyone who was fortunate enough to know him', said his company.
A formal investigation has been launched into the crash by the French authorities with involvement by Airbus, makers of the H130.
Taran's death comes as a number of Russian businessmen have died in mysterious circumstances since Russia's war in Ukraine.
Earlier this month, Viktor Cherkesov, 72, a close KGB spy mentor of Vladimir Putin's who suffered demotion after daring to publicly criticise the Kremlin leader, died from an unexplained 'serious disease'.
Recent deaths also include Ivan Pechorin, 39, director of the Far East and Arctic Development Corporation who 'fell overboard' from his yacht in September; Pavel Pchelnikov, 52, a PR manager for the Russian Railways shot dead in his Moscow apartment the same month; and Alexander Tyulakov, 61, a senior Gazprom executive found hanged at his house, also in Moscow.