Ubisoft co-founder Claude Guillemot was among the victims of a fatal light aircraft crash on Friday afternoon, June 19, in the commune of La Baule, France Info reported.

Loire-Atlantique firefighters said the aircraft was on fire when emergency crews arrived, with flames spreading to the surrounding vegetation. The aircraft, identified by local officials as a Cessna 421 twin-engine plane with eight seats, had taken off from Rennes.

Guillemot, who helped establish the video game company with his four brothers in 1986 and remained deputy chief executive in charge of operations, was traveling to an aviation event when the aircraft crashed, killing both people on board.

In a statement, Ubisoft said it was “deeply saddened” by the loss of its co-founder.

“Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time,” a spokesperson for the video game company said.

French authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the accident.