A ground worker at Montreal's main airport was fatally struck by a plane Monday evening.
The tragedy unfolded around 7:30 p.m. local time on the tarmac at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, where emergency crews responded to what officials called an unfortunate accident involving an aircraft and a member of the airport community, as Trending Politics reported. The employee, who worked for ground services company Samsic, was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but ultimately did not survive.
Montreal police shared preliminary details suggesting the plane may have been reversing when it collided with the worker. The aircraft involved was a French bee Airbus A350-900, registered as F-HREY, that had been assigned to flight BF5761 heading to Paris Orly Airport. That flight was originally supposed to depart around 6 p.m. but had already sat on the ground for hours because of a reported technical problem.
So let that sink in. The plane wasn't even supposed to still be there. A mechanical delay kept it parked well past its scheduled departure, and during ground operations that followed, this worker lost their life. Sometimes the cruelest details are the smallest ones.
French bee released a statement confirming the accident involved their aircraft and a pushback vehicle during ground operations. The airline noted that all passengers and crew members aboard were physically safe and were receiving care from both airline and airport personnel. They also confirmed cooperation with investigators working to figure out exactly what went wrong.
Yves Beauchamp, president and CEO of Montreal-Trudeau International Airport, offered condolences in a statement that reflected the gravity of the moment. He said the loss of a member of their airport community affects everyone deeply, extending sympathy to the worker's family, loved ones, and colleagues.
The airport authority quickly rolled out assistance and support resources for employees and passengers who witnessed what happened. Beyond that, officials declined to comment further on the specific circumstances, citing the ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, airport operations kept running. Passengers were told to check flight status directly through their carriers. Because the aviation industry, for better or worse, never really stops. Even when something this devastating happens on the very ground where thousands of people walk every single day.
This story is a painful reminder that airports are genuinely dangerous workplaces. The people marshaling planes, operating pushback vehicles, and working underneath massive aircraft deserve every safety measure imaginable. One worker went to their shift Monday evening and never came home. No amount of investigation findings will change that for their family.
The inquiry into the cause continues.
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