Air Canada CEO 'deeply saddened' his English-only message distracted from victims of crash

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau said he was "deeply saddened" that his limited French-language skills became a distraction following a crash at LaGuardia Airport that killed two of the airline's pilots. Rousseau faced public calls for his resignation after delivering his initial statement about the crash in English rather than French, drawing criticism in Quebec and among French-speaking Canadians who expected bilingual communication from the head of Canada's largest airline. The controversy shifted focus away from the victims and the investigation into the crash itself, overshadowing what should have been a moment of mourning and transparency from airline leadership. Air Canada operates as a federally regulated carrier in a bilingual nation where French is an official language and holds significant cultural importance, particularly in Quebec. Rousseau's apology acknowledged the misstep but did not fully quell demands from some quarters that he step down from his position.