Air Canada Chief Executive Officer Michael Rousseau apologized Thursday for his inability to speak French, saying the backlash over his language skills had distracted from the grief surrounding a fatal runway collision involving one of the airline’s regional flights.
In a statement released March 26, Rousseau said he was “deeply saddened” that his lack of French proficiency had diverted attention from the families of two pilots who were killed when an Air Canada plane operated by Jazz Aviation struck a firetruck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night.
“I am deeply saddened that my inability to speak French has diverted attention from the profound grief of the families and the great resilience of Air Canada’s employees,” Rousseau said in a statement, adding that he continues efforts to improve his French.
Why It Matters
There was intense criticism from Canadian political leaders after Rousseau delivered an English-only video message of condolence following the crash. Canada is officially bilingual, and Air Canada, as a federally regulated carrier headquartered in Montreal, is required to communicate in both English and French.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this week that Rousseau’s unilingual message showed a “lack of judgment and lack of compassion,” while Quebec Premier François Legault went further, calling for the CEO’s resignation.
The controversy has reignited long‑standing scrutiny of Rousseau, who has previously acknowledged struggling to learn French despite leading Canada’s flagship airline.
What To Know
The crash occurred at approximately 11:47 p.m. ET on Sunday when a CRJ‑900 aircraft operated by Jazz Aviation, flying as Air Canada Express Flight 8646, collided with a Port Authority firetruck on Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport.
The flight had traveled from Montreal carrying 72 passengers and four crew members. The pilot and first officer were killed, while about 40 passengers and crew were taken to area hospitals, some with serious injuries, authorities said.
Two Port Authority employees who were riding in the firetruck were also injured, though their injuries were not believed to be life‑threatening.
What People Are Saying
In a statement, Air Canada Chief Executive Officer Michael Rousseau said: “I want to reiterate my deepest condolences to the families of the Jazz Captain and First Officer who tragically lost their lives, and recognize the profound impact this accident has had on our employees and customers. Air Canada is cooperating fully with U.S. and Canadian authorities in the investigation.
“As President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada, it is my duty to support those affected by this tragedy. I am deeply saddened that my inability to speak French has diverted attention from the profound grief of the families and the great resilience of Air Canada’s employees, who have demonstrated outstanding professionalism despite the events of the past few days.
“Despite many lessons over several years, unfortunately, I am still unable to express myself adequately in French. I sincerely apologize for this, but I am continuing my efforts to improve.
“I am also very grateful to those who have given the very best of themselves throughout the last few days to take care of our customers and each other while coping with the weight of this tragedy and I have been moved by the messages of support received from so many people who have reached out to express their thoughts for those impacted by Sunday’s tragic accident.”
What Happens Next
Rousseau has been summoned to appear before Canada’s House of Commons standing committee on official languages to answer questions about Air Canada’s compliance with bilingualism requirements.
Meanwhile, investigations by U.S. and Canadian transportation authorities into the LaGuardia collision remain ongoing. Officials have said no determination has yet been made about the cause of the crash.
Air Canada has said it will continue cooperating fully with investigators as scrutiny over both the accident and its leadership intensifies.
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