Air Canada CEO to resign after backlash to video tribute of pilots killed in crash

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau apologized after facing criticism for delivering a condolence message in English only following a fatal collision at LaGuardia Airport involving an Air Canada plane operated by Jazz Aviation. The crash, which occurred shortly after landing, killed two pilots, one of whom was French Canadian, and injured dozens of passengers. Rousseau's inability to speak French, an official language in Canada, drew condemnation from political figures, including Prime Minister Mark Carney and Quebec Premier François Legault, who suggested Rousseau should resign if he cannot speak French. Rousseau stated he was deeply saddened that his language skills diverted attention from the grieving families and Air Canada staff, admitting his French remains weak despite years of lessons. He has been summoned to explain himself before Canada's parliamentary Committee on Official Languages.

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau apologized after facing criticism for delivering an English-only message of condolence following a plane crash in New York that killed two pilots, one of whom was a French-speaking Quebecer. Politicians, particularly in Quebec, condemned Rousseau's inability to speak French, with the Quebec legislature overwhelmingly passing a motion calling for his resignation and demanding the next CEO be bilingual. Rousseau cited his continued efforts to learn French, but lawmakers deemed his apology insufficient. The controversy stems from Air Canada's headquarters being located in Montreal, Quebec, where French is the primary language, and Canada's status as a bilingual country. Prime Minister Mark Carney also criticized Rousseau's lack of compassion and judgment.

LaGuardia Airport reopened a runway after it was closed following a fatal collision on the tarmac. On Sunday, an Air Canada Express plane collided with a fire truck, resulting in the deaths of two Canadian pilots. The deceased included Jazz Aviation First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, whose repatriation took place in Ottawa on Thursday. Crews removed the wreckage of the plane from the runway on Wednesday, allowing for the reopening. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the collision between the aircraft and the fire truck.

Following Sunday's deadly collision between an Air Canada plane and a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York, crews removed the wreckage from the runway on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. Most of the injured passengers have been released from the hospital. The incident involved an Air Canada Express jet. The collision resulted in at least one fatality, Air Canada Jazz pilot Antoine Forest. A memorial was created in Montreal to honor the pilot. The cause of the collision is still under investigation.

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau is facing criticism for issuing an English-only condolence message after a fatal collision involving an Air Canada Express flight at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Sunday. The message, addressing the death of two pilots, contained only two French words. Despite being based in Montreal, where French is widely spoken, Rousseau does not speak French and previously sparked controversy by addressing a Montreal chamber of commerce in English. Prime Minister Mark Carney rebuked Rousseau's "lack of judgment and compassion," and federal ministers have summoned him to the official languages committee to explain his actions. Air Canada stated Rousseau prioritized recording a message quickly and felt unable to adequately convey the sensitive message in French.

Months before a deadly runway collision at LaGuardia Airport, pilots filed safety concerns with aviation officials. These reports, submitted to NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System, detailed incidents of air traffic controllers potentially pushing operational limits and failing to provide adequate guidance regarding nearby aircraft. One pilot cited a near miss due to a takeoff clearance issued when their plane was on final approach, exacerbated by wildfire haze and a possible helicopter. The pilot also noted concerns about runway lighting and the lack of clear guidance on aircraft proximity. Another report described an aircraft cleared to cross a runway while another appeared to be landing, raising concerns about air traffic control procedures.

On March 22nd at LaGuardia Airport in New York, an Air Canada plane crashed after colliding with a fire truck on a runway. The incident resulted in the deaths of two pilots and injuries to several passengers and crew members. BBC Verify analyzed air-traffic-control audio and flight-tracking data to reconstruct the events leading up to the collision. The investigation aims to determine the sequence of events and contributing factors that caused the Air Canada plane to crash into the fire truck. The BBC report, produced by Aisha Sembhi with graphics by Mesut Ersoz and verification by Daniele Palumbo, details the findings of this analysis.

On Sunday night, March 22, 2026, an Air Canada regional jet collided with a fire truck on a runway while landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York. The pilot and co-pilot of the jet were killed in the collision, and several of the 70+ passengers and crew members were injured, requiring hospitalization. Audio recordings indicate someone repeatedly yelled "stop" before the collision. The NTSB is investigating the cause of the accident, which left a "tremendous amount of debris" on the runway. The runway may be closed for days as the investigation continues.

US officials are downplaying the possibility that distracted air traffic controllers contributed to the recent fatal collision between an Air Canada jet and a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident, which occurred while the fire truck was responding to an odour issue on a United Airlines flight. Media reports suggested that controllers might have been distracted by the United Airlines emergency. However, NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy cautioned against prematurely blaming controllers, stating that major accidents rarely result from a single failure. The investigation is ongoing to determine the precise cause of the collision.

The NTSB is investigating a collision at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night, March 22, 2026, between an Air Canada Express jet and a Port Authority fire truck that resulted in the death of two pilots. The fire truck was crossing the tarmac after receiving permission to check on another plane. Investigators are examining the cockpit recorder and air traffic controller communications to determine the cause of the crash. The NTSB also reported that the fire truck lacked the equipment necessary to trigger the runway warning system. The investigation is ongoing.

On March 23, 2026, an Air Canada plane crashed into a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York. CCTV footage captured the collision, and audio recordings revealed air traffic control's attempts to warn the plane's crew. The incident resulted in the deaths of both pilots. Dozens of other people were injured as a result of the crash. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

An Air Canada flight (AC8646) collided with a fire truck on a LaGuardia Airport runway late Sunday, killing the plane's two pilots. The crash, which occurred at 11:40 PM local time, injured 41 people who were hospitalized, some with serious injuries. LaGuardia Airport was shut down until Monday afternoon following the incident. Passengers described a turbulent landing followed by a loud "boom" upon impact, with many helping each other evacuate the aircraft. The pilots were identified as young men early in their careers, with one named as Antoine Forest from Québec. The cause of the collision is currently under investigation.

An Air Canada Express plane collided with a fire truck while landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and co-pilot and halting all flights. The incident occurred when the fire truck was responding to a separate emergency declared by a United Airlines flight due to an odour. The Air Canada Express CRJ-900, carrying 72 passengers and four crew members from Montreal, sustained significant damage. Nine people were hospitalized with serious injuries. The airport was closed and expected to reopen later that day, with flights diverted or returned to their origin. The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are investigating the collision.

An Air Canada Express flight 8646 from Montreal collided with a ground vehicle while landing at New York's LaGuardia Airport on Sunday evening. The CRJ-900 aircraft, operated by Jazz Aviation, struck the vehicle at approximately 24mph. The incident prompted the FAA to issue a ground stop for all departures to LaGuardia, initially closing the airport until 05:30 GMT, with a high probability of extension. Unverified social media footage showed damage to the plane's nose, and arriving flights were diverted or returned to their origin. Authorities warned of potential cancellations, road closures, and traffic delays near the airport, with a later FAA notice suggesting the airport could be closed until 18:00 GMT.

An Air Canada plane collided with a firefighting vehicle at New York's LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, prompting a ground stop and closure of the airport. The plane, arriving from Montreal with approximately 70 people on board, struck the Port Authority vehicle while it was responding to a separate incident. The collision caused significant damage to the aircraft, a CRJ 900 operated by Jazz Aviation, and local media reported injuries. Emergency services responded, and the National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation. Authorities are advising travelers to expect delays and avoid the area, as streets and highway exits into the airport are closed.

An Air Canada Express jet collided with a ground vehicle upon landing at New York's LaGuardia airport on Sunday night, temporarily closing the airport. The CRJ-900 plane, arriving from Montreal, struck the vehicle at approximately 24 mph. Photos show damage to the plane's nose. Reports indicate that four people were injured, including the pilot and co-pilot of the aircraft, as well as a sergeant and an officer who were in the fire truck. The injured individuals were reported to be in stable condition at a hospital. Authorities have not yet released official statements regarding the extent of the injuries.