Ubisoft Co-Founder Claude Guillemot Dies at 69 in France Plane Crash

Q: What caused the fatal crash of an experienced pilot and tech mogul just moments from landing?

The cause of the crash is not yet known. What is established is that Claude Guillemot, 69, was aboard his twin-engine Cessna 421 as it approached La Baule-Escoublac aerodrome after departing Rennes on June 19. Witnesses said the aircraft made a turn shortly before it went down in a field and burst into flames, killing Guillemot and a second man believed to be a flight instructor from Rennes. French authorities have opened parallel investigations to determine exactly what happened. The public prosecutor launched an involuntary homicide inquiry, handled by local police and the Gendarmerie du Transport Aérien, with technical support from the BEA, France’s air accident investigation agency. Autopsies were scheduled, and investigators are expected to examine the wreckage, flight path, weather, pilot actions, and any possible mechanical issues. At this stage, there is no official evidence pointing to a specific cause such as pilot error, engine failure, or weather. Although the Cessna 421 is a complex twin-engine aircraft and outside observers have noted that such planes can be vulnerable in engine-out situations during approach, that remains speculation unless confirmed by investigators. So, the short answer is that an experienced pilot and tech executive died moments from landing, but the reason his aircraft crashed remains under investigation and has not yet been publicly determined.

3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jun 20

Claude Guillemot, 69, died Friday when a private plane crashed while trying to land in La Baule, France; a flight instructor was also on board.
Ubisoft confirmed the death in a statement, calling Guillemot a co-founder of the group and chairman of Guillemot Corp., and said it would make no further comment.
Founded in 1986 by five Guillemot brothers, Ubisoft remains controlled by the family, with CEO and chairman Yves Guillemot serving as its public face.
The death comes as Ubisoft navigates prolonged business strain: its share price has fallen from $23 in 2018 to $1.12, leaving the company with a roughly $741 million market value.