Four Finns among five killed in private plane crash in Zimbabwe (updated)

Suominen Oyj

24/11/2018 20:42

(Adds company comments, details)
    HELSINKI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Four Finnish citizens are
believed to have been among five people who died in a plane
crash in Zimbabwe on Friday, their companies and Finland's
foreign ministry said.
    The plane crashed near Masvingo, the ministry said.
    Finnish pulp and paper maker UPM  UPM.HE  said Heikki
Vappula, 51, executive vice president of UPM Biorefining,
appeared on the passenger list of the crashed private plane.
    "We owe a debt of gratitude to Heikki who was a visionary
and inspiring executive... His insights and energy will be
greatly missed," UPM Chief Executive Jussi Pesonen said in a
statement.
    Lassila & Tikanoja  LAT1V.HE  CEO Pekka Ojanpaa, 52, was
also among the victims, the environmental and support services
firm said.
    "Pekka served as President and CEO of Lassila & Tikanoja for
seven years... Our deepest condolences to Pekka’s family and
closest ones in this time of loss”, company chairman Heikki
Bergholm said.
    Ojanpaa was set to leave Lassila & Tikanoja at the end of
this month to start working as chief executive of another
Finnish company, fibre maker Suominen Corporation  SUY1V.HE .
    The ministry said it had received confirmation from
Zimbabwean authorities regarding the four Finns involved.
    The two other Finns on the crashed plane were a 53-year-old
technology expert and a partner of a law firm, Finnish media
reported.
    The four men are believed to have been on a private hunting
trip, media reported.
        
    

 (Reporting by Anne Kauranen; editing by Jason Neely)
 ((anne.kauranen@thomsonreuters.com; +358968050216;))