Air Canada CEO to retire after English-only crash condolence video
Michael Rousseau will step down by end of third quarter following backlash over language choice after LaGuardia collision that killed two pilots.
12:19 PM
Air Canada announced Monday that CEO Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of the third quarter of 2026, following widespread criticism of his English-only condolence message after a fatal plane crash at LaGuardia Airport earlier this month.
The collision occurred on March 22 when an Air Canada Jazz flight from Montreal landed at LaGuardia and struck a fire-and-rescue vehicle on the runway. The crash killed two pilots: Captain Antoine Forest, a French-speaking resident of Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, a graduate of Toronto's Seneca Polytechnic.
In response to the tragedy, Rousseau released a video statement of condolence lasting approximately three minutes and 44 seconds. The message was delivered entirely in English, with only the French words "bonjour" and "merci" included, along with French subtitles. The video drew immediate criticism from Quebec residents, politicians, and federal officials.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the English-only message showed "a lack of compassion" and poor judgment. Quebec's Premier François Legault called for Rousseau's resignation. The provincial legislature voted in favor of a motion calling for him to exit the company. The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages received hundreds of complaints about the video.
Rousseau issued a statement of apology on March 26, saying he was "deeply saddened" that his inability to speak French "diverted attention" from the grief of the pilots' families and Air Canada staff. He acknowledged that despite taking French lessons over the years, he was unable to express himself "adequately" in the language.
Air Canada, Canada's largest airline and headquartered in Montreal, is required by law to offer flight service in both English and French. The airline said in its announcement that it will search for a new CEO who has "the ability to communicate in French" and will consider this criterion among other performance metrics when assessing candidates.
Rousseau, 68, has served as CEO since 2021 and held top positions at the airline for nearly two decades, including roles as chief financial officer and deputy CEO. An Air Canada spokesperson said Rousseau "has reached a natural retirement age" and that his plans to retire later this year are consistent with the board's CEO succession planning.
Board Chairman Vagn Sorenson thanked Rousseau for his years of service, citing his leadership during the 2007-2008 financial crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other challenges, as well as his work on acquisitions such as Aeroplan and efforts to restore pension plan solvency and advance customer centricity and employee well-being priorities.
Rousseau will continue to lead the company and serve on the board of directors until his retirement takes effect.