Two people have died, but this is what some people are complaining about regarding Air Canada’s CEO and their video response to the tragic crash at LaGuardia Airport on March 22. Miscommunication, among other issues, caused Air Canada Flight 8646 to crash into a fire truck upon landing. The emergency vehicle was attempting to cross the runway.
🚨#BREAKING: New video has just been released showing security footage of the exact moment an Air Canada plane collided with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport in New York City last night, leaving two pilots dead and multiple other passengers injured. pic.twitter.com/lM3gcH4Bg7
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) March 23, 2026
LISTEN: Air traffic control audio is released from the deadly runway collision at LaGuardia Airport.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 23, 2026
Two pilots were killed and dozens of passengers were injured after an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck. The airport is now closed and the FAA has issued a ground stop… pic.twitter.com/0PW7LErjYl
On March 23, the airline’s CEO, Michael Rousseau, posted a video about the disaster, mostly in English. He’s now stepping down due to the lack of French (via NYT):
Air Canada President and CEO Michael Rousseau provides a video statement on the tragic accident involving Air Canada Express AC8646: pic.twitter.com/ZwFibpOkj2
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 23, 2026
JUST IN: Air Canada CEO to resign following backlash for posting condolence video in English only.
— Polymarket (@Polymarket) March 30, 2026
Air Canada’s chief executive, Michael Rousseau, said on Monday that he would step down, days after criticism over his condolence message, delivered almost entirely in English, after a fatal accident involving an Air Canada plane at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
The airline said in a statement that Mr. Rousseau, who was appointed chief executive in 2021, would retire by the end of the third quarter. Company directors would evaluate candidates to succeed him on several factors, “including the ability to communicate in French,” according to the statement.
Canada has two official languages, English and French. Air Canada, whose headquarters are in Montreal, is required to offer services in both languages.
On March 22, an Air Canada Express flight from Montreal collided with an airport fire truck after landing at LaGuardia, killing both pilots and injuring dozens. One of the pilots, Antoine Forest, was from Quebec.
Mr. Rousseau, 68, faced backlash after releasing a video primarily in English and little French — he said “bonjour” and “merci” — that was criticized as dismissive of French-speaking Canadians. Politicians quickly voiced their frustrations, arguing that Mr. Rousseau’s inability to speak French showed a disconnect from a significant portion of the country.
In Quebec, lawmakers voted unanimously in favor of a motion calling for Mr. Rousseau’s resignation. Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, said he was “very disappointed.”
Honestly, I believe the victims here couldn’t care less which language this video statement was in, but is this a serious reaction? People are dead. There was a plane crash, and it seems there's more outrage that Rousseau didn’t speak enough French.
Not a serious outrage, sorry.
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