The Alaskan Mountains, his PPF group business confirmed through a statement online on Saturday that Kellner was amongst five who died, the incident remains under investigation.
With an estimated net worth of $17.5 billion, Kellner made his fortune in the early 1990’s selling office supplies before taking a stake in the biggest Czech insurer during its privatisation.
Today his business includes Home Credit, a consumer lending service, alongside a media and telecom portfolio holding interests in O2, Telenor and CME. His PPF Group claims to own assets totalling over $50 billion.
It is with great sadness that we heard the news that Petr Kellner, former co-owner of the club, died. Slavia would like to offer its deepest and most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Kellner. pic.twitter.com/vlzdmlgtiI
— SK Slavia Prague EN (@slavia_eng) March 29, 2021
In a statement online, Kellner’s PPF investment group celebrated the entrepreneur’s “incredible work ethic and creativity.” Czech Prime Minister and billionaire Andrej Babiš, tweeted: “An incredible tragedy. I’m so sorry. Sincere condolences to the whole family of Petr Kellner.”
Described by Radio Prague International today as “a true titan of Czech business in the post-Communist period,” Kellner began his rise in Czechoslovakia in the early 1990s during the flash sale of state-owned companies. He remained active, completing the acquisition of CME, one of the region’s leading media companies with television stations in the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Bulgaria, in late 2020.
Crash
On Saturday night Alaska State Troopers were notified of a missing helicopter and quickly located a crash site Knik Glacier, an area of outstanding natural beauty around 50 miles from Anchorage.
One survivor was found, five died including Kellner and mountain skier Gregory Harms, 52, from Colorado who updated his Instagram from North Chugach over the weekend, cited the “huge effort” to get to Alaska.
State Troopers confirmed that the helicopter was an Airbus AS350B3 owned by Soloy Helicopters of Wasilla, Alaska, adding that the group is believed to have been heliskiing in the area.
Benjamin Larochaix, 50, from the Czech Republic, Sean McManamy, 38 from Alaska and Zachary Russell, 33 (pilot), also from Alaska died in the crash. The investigation is ongoing.
The Alaska Army National Guard reported a single survivor is currently receiving medical care at an Anchorage area hospital. The survivor is in “serious but stable condition” according to the Alaskan Department of Public Safety website.