"A Cessna aircraft crashed near La Baule Airport in western France on Friday evening, resulting in the deaths of Claude Guillemot, a co-founder of video game company Ubisoft, and a second individual present on board."
Incident Details
The crash occurred shortly before the aircraft was scheduled to land at La Baule Airport on the Atlantic coast. The plane, identified by some sources as a Cessna 421 twin-engine model, crashed in a field near the airport. Local media reported that both occupants died in the incident. A La Baule airport official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the crash.
According to reports, Guillemot was piloting the aircraft at the time of the crash. The other individual on board has been identified as a flight instructor. The flight originated in Rennes, France, and was reportedly traveling to La Baule for a meeting of light airplane enthusiasts.
Individuals Involved
Claude Guillemot co-founded Ubisoft in 1986 alongside his brothers Michel, Yves, Gérard, and Christian in Carentoir, Brittany. He also served as the President of the Guillemot Foundation and held the title of Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Ubisoft. Additionally, Guillemot was the Chairman of Guillemot Corporation, a gaming accessories company he helped lead, which was founded in 1984. He was also involved in the founding of Gameloft in 2000. In July 2025, he transferred the day-to-day management of Guillemot Corporation to his son Valentin while remaining Chairman.
Company Response
Ubisoft released a statement confirming Guillemot's death. Guillemot Corporation expressed condolences to his family. The company is known for video game franchises including Assassin's Creed, Just Dance, Rayman, and the Tom Clancy series.