Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner Group the infamous Russia mercenary outfit, was on the passenger list of a business jet that was said to have crashed in Russia on Wednesday, according to Russian aviation authorities.
All 10 people on board, including three crew members — were said to have been killed in the crash. Eight bodies were found at the crash site following the first investigations following the crash, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
It was not immediately clear if Prigozhin was indeed one of the passengers reported to have died on the plane at the time of this article. Unconfirmed reports said the jet belonged to the Wagner chief.
“An investigation has been launched into the Embraer plane crash that occurred tonight in the Tver region. According to the passenger list, among them is the name and surname of Yevgeny Prigozhin,” said Rosaviatsia, the Russian civil aviation authority.
The jet was reportedly en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg when it crashed near the village of Kuzhenkino in Tver, a region over 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the Russian capital.
Public opinion differs as to the cause of the crash especially given the fact that the embattled General and leader of the Wagner Group, a mercenary for rent organization was recently at the center of a plot against Putin. This has led many member of the general public to have a negative feeling as to the cause of the crash.
The story and investigations are currently unfolding and we would keep you updated.
