The driver of the snowplow that collided with a private plane on the runway of Moscow's Vnukovo Airport last month, killing French energy giant Total's CEO Christophe de Margerie and three crew members, has written a letter of apology to the victims' families, his lawyer said.
Vladimir Martynenko wrote the apology letter from prison, according to his lawyer Alexander Karabanov, who posted a copy of his client's message on Facebook on Monday.
"I followed instructions as usual and cannot understand how this could have happened," the handwritten letter said. "Forgive me if you can."
Russian investigators say Martynenko was drunk at the time of the accident, an accusation his lawyer has denied. If found guilty of violating air-traffic safety rules, Martynenko faces up to seven years in prison under Russian law.
