Air Canada CEO announces retirement amid intense backlash after deadly plane crash

WorldPolitics
31 Mar 2026 • 12:24 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau announced his retirement by the end of the third quarter, following widespread criticism.
  • The criticism arose from an English-only condolence message he issued after a deadly plane crash at LaGuardia Airport.
  • The message, containing only two French words, sparked outrage in officially bilingual Canada, especially from Quebec officials.
  • The incident involved an Air Canada Jazz flight from Montreal colliding with a fire truck on the runway, resulting in the deaths of two pilots, one of whom was a French-speaking Quebecer.
  • Rousseau apologized for his inability to speak French, acknowledging that his previous commitment to learn the language had not been met.

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