Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has publicly condemned Air Canada’s leadership for demonstrating “a lack of judgement and compassion” in its response to Sunday’s fatal collision at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The criticism centers on CEO Michael Rousseau’s decision to issue condolence messages exclusively in English despite one of the two deceased pilots being a French-speaking Quebecer.
The tragedy occurred when an Air Canada flight from Montreal collided with a fire truck shortly after landing, claiming the lives of 30-year-old Quebecois pilot Antoine Forest and his colleague Mackenzie Gunther. Dozens of passengers sustained injuries, with six remaining hospitalized as of Tuesday.
Rousseau’s unilingual video statement on X platform, expressing “deepest sorrow for everyone affected,” ignited immediate backlash across Canada’s political spectrum. Although the video included subtitles in both official languages, the CEO’s spoken English-only delivery drew particular ire given the company’s statutory obligations under Canada’s Official Languages Act.
Quebec Premier François Legault led calls for Rousseau’s resignation, stating the CEO should step down if unable to communicate in French. Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet characterized the English-only message as a “sad and gross lack of respect” toward the francophone pilot’s family.
This incident represents the latest chapter in Rousseau’s troubled relationship with French Canada. Appointed in 2021 despite limited French proficiency, the anglophone CEO previously drew criticism for suggesting his busy schedule prevented language learning—a remark that required subsequent public apology.
Canada’s parliamentary Committee on Official Languages has summoned Rousseau to explain his communication strategy before MPs by May 1. The committee emphasized that the airline’s approach contradicts both legal requirements and public expectations for bilingual communications.
Meanwhile, U.S. investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the runway collision. National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy confirmed that air traffic controller communications are under scrutiny, with preliminary evidence indicating both the aircraft and emergency vehicle had received clearance to cross the active runway.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions regarding French language preservation in Canada, where bilingualism rates have shown concerning declines despite legislative protections for both official languages.