In a statement, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau said he was “deeply saddened” that his inability to speak French “diverted attention” from the victims of the collision, their families and the airline’s staff.
The CEO of Air Canada has apologised after facing massive flak and calls to resign for not speaking French in a condolence video following a deadly collision between a plane and a truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
In a four-minute video published day after the accident last week, Michael Rousseau delivered his message almost entirely in English, using only two French words — ‘Bonjour’ and ‘Merci’. The video included subtitles in both languages.
The backlash has since grown into a broader debate in Canada over language, overshadowing the deaths of two young pilots in the collision.
LANGUAGE ROW ECLIPSES TRAGEDY
Canada has two official languages, English and French. The issue carries particular weight in Quebec, a predominantly French-speaking province where Air Canada is headquartered.
Montreal, the flight’s point of departure, is located in Quebec, and one of the pilots who died was French Canadian.
As of March 27, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages had received 2,195 complaints over Rousseau’s video, mostly from people piqued at the Air Canada boss not delivering condolences in both official languages.
The controversy also drew sharp reactions from political leaders.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the English-only message showed “a lack of compassion,” while Quebec Premier Francois Legault said Rousseau should step down if he cannot speak French.
Rousseau, an anglophone who lives in Quebec, has faced scrutiny over his French-language skills since his appointment in 2021.
AIR CANADA CEO ISSUES APOLOGY
In a written statement released in both English and French last Thursday, Rousseau apologised, while also acknowledging that the controversy had shifted focus away from the victims.
“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,” he said.
He added he was deeply saddened that his inability to speak French “diverted attention” from grieving families and Air Canada staff.
DEADLY PLANE-TRUCK COLLISION
The accident occurred when an Air Canada Express jet carrying 72 passengers collided with a fire truck on the runway after landing at LaGuardia Airport on March 22.
The truck, responding to a separate incident involving another aircraft, had been cleared to cross the runway moments before the plane touched down.
Two pilots, Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, were killed. About 40 people were treated for injuries, including two firefighters and a flight attendant who survived after being thrown onto the tarmac while still strapped to her seat.
US investigators are still working to determine what led to the fatal collision.
