A helicopter crash in Alaska ended the lives of the richest man in the Czech Republic, Petr Kellner, and four other individuals, as confirmed by the billionaire's financial group PPF.

The National Transportation Safety Board is currently looking into the helicopter crash, which involved the Czech billionaire, as the agency already launched an investigation. Based on reports, Kellner, along with his group, had been on a heli-skiing trip involving an off-trail, downhill skiing, or snowboarding that is reached by helicopter instead of a ski lift.

Based on officials handling the case, the helicopter crashed under unknown circumstances around 50 miles east of Anchorage around 6:35 pm on Saturday. Alaska State Troopers stated that a sixth person on board who suffered serious injuries is now in a stable condition on Sunday at a medical facility in Anchorage.

In a statement, they revealed that on Saturday night, they received a report of an overdue helicopter and the location of the possible crash debris.

The Crash

Reports stated that Kellner was aboard an Airbus AS350 B3 helicopter when it went down close to Knik Glacier.

Moreover, other individuals involved in the helicopter crash were identified as Benjamin Larochaix, 50, also of the Czech Republic; Gregory Harms, 52, of Colorado; Sean McMannany, 38, of Girdwood; and the pilot, Zachary Russel, 33, from Alaska. The company spokesperson, Mary Ann Pruitt, shared that the five passengers included three guests (Kellner, Larochaix, and Russel) and two guides (Harms and McMannany) from Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, The Independent reported.

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In her statement, Pruitt mentioned that Mr. Harms, the 52-year-old man from Colorado, was a pioneering heli-ski guide in Alaska and worked for numerous at the lodge. She also added that Gregory Harms was one of the most experienced guides in the business. Harms also founded a heli-ski company that led trips around the world.

In addition, Pruitt shared that Kellner and Larochaix were loyal and frequent guests at the lodge. Also, she added that the 33-year-old Zachary Russel was a pilot for Soloy helicopters, a Wasilla-based company contracted by the lodge in providing transportation services.

Meanwhile, the Tordrillo Mountain Lodge released a statement that they were devastated about the news, so as the community where they operate and the families of the deceased. The lodge also mentioned that it is the first time they had this kind of incident in their 17 years of business.

Czech Republic's Richest Man

According to Sky News, the 56-year-old businessman, Petr Kellner, who is the richest man in the Czech Republic, has an estimated net worth of $17.5bn, based on Forbes.  

On the other hand, Kellner made his first fortune in the 1990s wherein he launched an investment fund that he used to buy a controlling stake in the largest insurance company in the Czech Republic. Kellner then bought the Central European Media Enterprises, a major broadcasting network in Europe, for $1.1bn last October. The purchase prompted fears in Czech Republic that the broadcasting network might be losing its independence, Bloomberg reported.

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