The coal billionaire Chris Cline has been killed in a helicopter crash in the Bahamas along with six other people.
The 60-year-old, from West Virginia, US, died alongside his daughter and five others in the tragic incident.
He was hours away from turning 61-years-old when the aircraft went down on a flight back to the US.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice tweeted: "Today we lost a WV superstar and I lost a very close friend.
"Our families go back to the beginning of the Cline empire - Pioneer Fuel. Chris Cline built an empire and on every occasion was always there to give. What a wonderful, loving, and giving man.
"Cathy and I are praying for his family and all those involved in this tragedy."
West Virginia state senator Sue Cline added: "Prayers for Family and friends of my great friend Chris Cline and his daughter Cameron and her dear friends who we lost today in a helicopter crash .
"Chris was a exceptional human being and we all loved him so much. Such a loss for all seven aboard today. Our hearts are broken."
Bahamas Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar told local media: "We’ve located the craft. It seems as if the seven passengers are still onboard so therefore submerged, but we can’t confirm anything yet.
“They’re attempting…to first of all go to the helicopter and retrieve any souls that are onboard and start the investigation."
The helicopter carrying the coal magnate went down in the Atlantic Ocean, Mail Online reports.
The billionaire was known for starting Foresight Energy, a company that dominates the coal industry, before selling his most of his stake in 2015.
In 2017 he was estimated as being worth $1.9m.
His first wife Sabrina died from breast cancer in 1987, and divorced his second wife Kelly in 2000.
He also famously started a relationship with Tiger Woods' ex-wife Elin Nordegren in 2013.
Chris has been married twice and had two daughters and a couple of sons.
His first wife died from breast cancer in 1987 and although he later remarried the relationship broke down after seven years.
