Florida

Chris Cline, Billionaire Coal Tycoon and Philanthropist, Dies at 60

Cline's attorney confirmed the coal-mining executive, one of his daughters, a pilot and friends of Cline were killed in the crash

Billionaire West Virginia coal executive and philanthropist Chris Cline died in a helicopter crash off the coast of the Bahamas Thursday, according to his lawyer. He was 60.

Six others also died in the crash including Cline's daughter, friends and the pilot, attorney Brian Glasser told NBC News.

President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences to the loved ones of those killed in the crash late Friday night, and referred to Cline as a "great businessman and energy expert."

"The great people of West Virginia will never forget them!" Trump tweeted. 

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and Evan Jenkins, a justice on the state Supreme Court, both paid tribute to Cline, the founder of Foresight Energy of St. Louis, one of the nation's biggest coal companies.

Gov. Justice called Cline "a very close friend" and a "superstar" on Twitter.

Contact Us