MOSCOW, January 28 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City court on Wednesday upheld the detention of Vnukovo snowplow driver Vladimir Martynenko and air traffic controller Alexander Kruglov who have been charged in the criminal case over Total CEO Cristophe de Margerie’s death, RAPSI reports from the courtroom.

The court thus dismissed an appeal filed by the defendants’ attorneys challenging the extension of their detention. They asked to release their clients on bail or place them under house arrest. Martynenko will remain in detention until April 21. Kruglov will stay jailed April 22.

Total CEO Christophe de Margerie died in the crash of his Falcon 50 private jet on the evening of October 20 at Vnukovo Airport along with three crew members, all French citizens. The plane, which was scheduled to depart to Paris, hit a snow removal vehicle during takeoff.

Russian authorities have detained airport engineer Vladimir Ledenev, snowplow driver Vladimir Martynenko and air traffic controller Alexander Kruglov.

Air traffic control trainee Svetlana Krivsun and flight supervisor Roman Dunaev were placed under house arrest.

The employees of the airport stand accused of violation of air traffic rules which resulted in death of two and more people. They face up to seven years in prison each. All defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.

The investigation into the case earlier was extended until May 21, 2015.