Snowplow driver involved in air crash that killed TOTAL CEO held by authorities

CNN reports that the snowplow driver who has been blamed by Russian authorities for the plane crash at Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport that killed TOTAL oil company CEO Christophe de Margerie and three others is being held in pretrial detention. The lawyer for Snowplow driver Vladimir Martynenko denies claims by investigators that his client was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

The business jet struck the snowplow on the runway during takeoff and crashed, killing de Margerie and three members of the air crew.

Martynenko's lawyer, Aleksandr Karabanov, told CNN that a court decided Thursday to place him in detention because he was a potential flight risk.

"The judge explained her decision, saying that the court decided that Martynenko could escape, put pressure on trial participants or destroy the evidence," Karabanov said.

He said the judge had also introduced a doctor's certificate with results of a preliminary medical examination. The final results are expected in 5-7 days.

Four other airport employees have also been detained in connection with the crash, a Russian investigative committee said, including the airport service chief engineer, flights director and two air traffic controllers.

"Investigators believe the detained persons failed to provide safety requirements concerning flights and on-ground works and it led to the tragedy," a statement from the investigative committee said. "They have been detained and questioned as suspects in the case."

Amid considerable international attention focusing on the incident, the airport's director general, Andrei Dyakov, and deputy director general Sergei Solntsev have both resigned, the airport said in a statement Thursday.