La Baule-Escoublac, France: A twin-engine Cessna 421 crashed during its approach to La Baule-Escoublac Airport in western France on June 19, 2026, killing both people on board and triggering an investigation by French aviation authorities.
The aircraft went down in a field near the airport while preparing to land after a flight from Rennes. Emergency services responding to the scene found the wreckage engulfed in flames, with the fire spreading to nearby vegetation. Despite the rapid response of firefighters and rescue teams, both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
The victims were identified as 69-year-old Claude Guillemot, co-founder of video game publisher Ubisoft and chairman of Guillemot Corporation, and a flight instructor from Rennes who was accompanying him on the flight. French authorities had not publicly released the instructor’s name as of June 22.
According to local officials, the aircraft involved was a Cessna 421 Golden Eagle, a pressurized twin-engine piston aircraft widely used for private and business aviation operations. Local authorities indicated that the aircraft was owned by Guillemot.
The flight had departed Rennes earlier in the day and was arriving at La Baule when the accident occurred. Several reports indicated that Guillemot was expected to attend an aviation gathering in the coastal town over the weekend, though authorities have not formally linked the flight to the event.
Witnesses quoted by French media reported seeing the aircraft maneuvering during the final stages of its approach before it descended and impacted the ground. However, investigators have not confirmed the circumstances leading to the crash.
The French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) and other relevant authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. No preliminary findings have been released, and officials have not indicated whether weather, mechanical issues, operational factors, or other circumstances may have contributed to the crash.
Guillemot was one of the five Guillemot brothers who founded Ubisoft in 1986. While his brother Yves Guillemot became the company’s longtime chief executive, Claude played a key role in the group’s development and later served as chairman of Guillemot Corporation, the gaming hardware company behind brands such as Thrustmaster and Hercules.
Under the leadership of the Guillemot family, Ubisoft grew into one of the world’s largest video game publishers, producing globally recognized franchises including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, Rayman, Just Dance, and The Division.
French investigators continue to examine the wreckage and gather evidence as they work to determine what caused the fatal crash near La Baule.
