The Quebecer who perished in Milan in the crash of a private plane piloted by one of the richest men in the world on Sunday was in Europe to spend time with his boyfriend’s family.
Lawyer and holder of an MBA from the University of Sherbrooke, Julien Brossard, 35, worked in Montreal as vice-president for the Liberty Mutual Canada insurance company.
“Julien was on vacation. It is the father of his boyfriend who piloted the plane. They had just attended a baptism in Milan and were going to Sardinia in the family home when the crash occurred ”, explains in an interview Simon Léger, long-time friend and co-owner of a duplex with Julien Brossard in Montreal .
Saint-Laurent MPP Marwah Rizqy, close to Mr. Brossard, said the latter was one of the guests at his wedding, which took place last month. “My beautiful friend, you left us much too soon and so brutally. I was far from suspecting that last Monday I hugged you for the last time. Go in peace, beautiful soul. Tonight we will light up your house. I love you, ”she wrote on Twitter.
A total of eight people died Sunday in Milan in the crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff and which remains unexplained for the moment.
The plane, a Pilatus PC-12 designed in Switzerland, was flown by 68-year-old Romanian billionaire Dan Petrescu, who was with his wife, Regina Dorotea Petrescu Balzat, his son Dan Stefan Petrescu and his friend, Julien Brossard, as well as several relatives, including a baby, when the crash occurred.
PHOTO FLAVIO LO SCALZO, REUTERS
Firefighters and police at the crash site on Sunday
The aircraft took off at 1:04 p.m. local time and crashed into a commercial building 11 minutes later. Witnesses reported to the Italian press that they saw the plane “losing control” fly low and plunge into a building under renovation, causing an explosion and a fire that also set fire to several vehicles parked in the street. The building was empty at the time of impact.
Witnesses also said the plane caught fire before falling rapidly. Investigators reported having found the plane’s black box and that an investigation had been opened into the causes of the crash.
Lovers of the Charter of Rights
The sudden and tragic death of Mr. Brossard “completely demolished” his friends and family, notes Simon Léger, who was friends with Julien Brossard since childhood. They attended the same elementary school in the Laurentians. His relatives and friends had organized a vigil in his honor at his home on Monday evening.
“It must have been Julien’s birthday this Friday, he was happy to go on vacation, he was going to take a trip to the heart of his boyfriend’s family…”
Julien was a guy with strong opinions, extremely involved in social causes, who liked adventure, who had a great sense of justice. If I know the Charter of Rights and Freedoms by heart, it is because of him, because human rights were very dear to him.
Simon Léger, friend of Julien Brossard
Aviation enthusiast, Dan Petrescu was one of the richest people in Romania, with a fortune valued at 3 billion euros (4.3 billion CAN), according to the Romanian newspaper truth. Mr. Petrescu ran a construction business and owned a supermarket chain and owned several malls. The businessman, who did not give an interview and liked to remain discreet, had fled Romania during the reign of dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, but had returned after the Romanian revolution of 1989. Mr. Petrescu also held citizenship. German.
Dan Stefan Petrescu, his son who also lost his life in the crash, was doing a doctorate in chemistry at McGill University, where his research focused on developing new materials that could improve efficiency and reduce fuel consumption. ‘energy.