Ground Employee Critically Injured in Montreal Airport Accident
MONTREAL — A ground worker was seriously injured after being struck by a French bee Airbus A350-900 during pushback operations at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, disrupting the low-cost carrier’s scheduled service to Paris.
The accident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. local time on August 24 as French bee prepared the widebody aircraft for departure to Paris Orly Airport. Emergency procedures were activated immediately, and the injured employee was transported to a hospital in critical condition, according to local reports.
Airport operations continued following the accident, but the aircraft remained in Montreal as authorities began examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.
French bee A350 Strikes Worker During Pushback
The accident happened while the Airbus A350 was being moved away from its parking position. Initial reports described the injured employee as a ground marshaller or signaller responsible for helping guide aircraft safely across the apron.
Authorities have not released a complete account of the accident or confirmed the precise sequence of events.
Some reports indicated that the worker may have tripped and fallen into the aircraft’s path while the pushback was underway. The aircraft’s landing gear reportedly struck the employee, although investigators will need to determine whether that description accurately reflects what happened.
Pushback operations typically involve close coordination among pilots, tug operators and ground personnel. Because workers operate near aircraft landing gear, engines and other equipment, established communications and safety procedures are critical throughout the process.
Seven-Year-Old Airbus A350 Involved
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A350-900 registered as F-HREY. The seven-year-old jet entered commercial service with French bee in June 2019.
French bee configures the aircraft with 411 passenger seats, including 35 premium-economy seats and 376 economy seats. The high-density layout reflects the airline’s long-haul, low-cost business model.
The A350 had been scheduled to operate French bee’s service from Montreal to Paris Orly. It had reportedly remained in Montreal over the weekend after experiencing a technical issue, adding another operational complication for the airline.
There was no immediate indication that the earlier technical problem contributed to the ground accident.
Montreal-to-Paris Flight Disrupted
The aircraft’s planned departure time was around 6 p.m., but pushback did not take place until later in the evening. The accident prevented the jet from operating the scheduled transatlantic flight.
Following the incident, F-HREY remained at Montreal-Trudeau. Another French bee Airbus A350 later operated the airline’s scheduled service to Paris Orly, departing after midnight.
Aéroports de Montréal said emergency measures were deployed at approximately 7:30 p.m. Passengers were advised to contact their airlines directly for updated flight information.
The accident did not force Montreal-Trudeau to suspend its broader operations. Other flights continued while emergency teams responded and authorities secured the area connected to the incident.
Canadian Authorities Reviewing Accident
Canada’s Transportation Safety Board was notified of the accident. As of August 25, however, the agency had not announced that it was deploying investigators to Montreal-Trudeau.
Quebec’s workplace health and safety regulator is also expected to examine the incident because the person injured was an airport employee, according to aviation publication PYOK. A workplace investigation could review ground-handling procedures, employee positioning, communication protocols and the equipment used during the pushback.
Authorities had not publicly identified the injured employee or disclosed an updated medical condition. French bee also had not provided a detailed explanation of the accident.
French bee Operates Long-Haul Low-Cost Network
French bee was established by Groupe Dubreuil in 2016 as a French long-haul, low-cost airline. The carrier initially operated under the French Blue name before adopting the French bee brand in 2018.
The name was changed after U.S. carrier JetBlue objected to the French airline’s use of the word “Blue.” French bee has since developed a network connecting France with destinations in North America and other long-haul markets using an all-Airbus A350 fleet.
The Montreal accident now places attention on ground-handling safety and the coordination required to move large passenger aircraft around congested airport aprons. Further details are expected as Canadian transportation and workplace authorities determine how the worker entered the aircraft’s path.
