Svetlana Krivsun sits inside the defendant's cage during her hearing in a Moscow court. (Photo: AFP)
Russian prosecutors on Wednesday charged a rookie air traffic controller over the Moscow plane crash that killed the CEO of French oil giant Total.
Russia's Investigative Committee said trainee Svetlana Krivsun -- who oversaw the take-off of the private jet -- was charged with causing multiple deaths through negligence by breaching air safety rules.
Oil boss Christophe de Margerie and three crew members were killed when their private jet hit a snowplough as it lifted off at Moscow's Vnukovo airport October 20 and burst into flames.
Krivsun is so far the only person to be charged over the fatal crash. She faces up to seven years in prison if found guilty.
The driver of the snowplough and three other airport officials are also currently in detention for questioning.