"The mercenary captains are either capable men or they are not; if they are, you cannot trust them, because they always aspire to their own greatness, either by oppressing you, who are their master, or others contrary to your intentions; but if the captain is not skilful, you are ruined in the usual way."
The article does mention that they haven't fully confirmed that he was actually on that plane. And that there was a second one also with them. Even if he was listed on the one that crashed, it is possible that it was a ruse. Wouldn't be the first time someone that is a pretty big target pulled the old switch-a-roo for their own safety. But also just possible he didn't, and is now dead. Given the situation and his very public show of hate for the leaders of the Russian military. I doubt that any answer will fully ever be considered "true" as even super simple parts to the whole conflict are all sus.
In all seriousness comrades im a bit spooked about this, its a whatever event but also im worried about the real possibility of the fallout of this leading to a russian civil war, which for a country with nukes could go south and have consequences for everyone.
Nah one of the oldest and most basic rules of mecenaries is "nobody fight for a dead man", even if he was really offed by FSB what will come next is just some stool shuffling and maybe new contracts.
At risk of sounding like an armchair analyst, that smoke at the beginning on what seems to the planes course before trouble, looks sus. Maybe SAM went flyswatting.