A ground marshaller suffered critical injuries when a French Bee aircraft backed into the worker at Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport on Monday, August 24, 2026, shortly before departure. Emergency services were called at about 7:30 p.m. Eastern.
The worker remained in life-threatening condition, emergency services spokesperson Valérie Guertin said. The collision occurred on the airport tarmac during ground operations.
Aéroports de Montréal said emergency crews responded after an accident involving an aircraft and a member of the airport community. The airport community includes workers who support aircraft movements and departures.
Free toolCanada Express Entry Points Calculator
The airport continued operating after the emergency response. It asked travelers to confirm their schedules directly with their airlines.
The aircraft was reversing before the collision
Flight-tracking information identified the aircraft as an Airbus A350-900 operating French Bee flight BF5761. The service had been due to leave Montreal for Paris-Orly at 6:00 p.m.
The aircraft was backing up when it hit the worker. The collision happened during the aircraft's preparation for departure.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Airport | Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport |
| Flight | French Bee flight BF5761 |
| Aircraft | Airbus A350-900 |
| Scheduled route | Montreal to Paris-Orly |
| Scheduled departure | 6:00 p.m. |
| Emergency response | Around 7:30 p.m. Eastern |
Aéroports de Montréal described the event as an “unfortunate accident.” Eric Forest, the airport's spokesperson, relayed the statement about the emergency measures at the YUL International Montreal-Trudeau Airport.
Police transferred the case as a workplace accident
The Montreal Police Service transferred the matter to the Commission on Standards, Equity, Health, and Safety at Work as a workplace accident. Officers and crime scene investigators remained at the scene while they worked to determine what caused the impact.
The workplace-safety authority will examine the incident as investigators establish the sequence of events. Police have not publicly confirmed the worker's name.
Guertin said emergency officials also had not released the person's age or sex.
“We do not have any further information at the moment, including regarding the person's sex or age.”
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada was informed of the collision. The board said it was aware of the incident and directed inquiries to the airport.
Witness accounts have not established how the impact unfolded
Several accounts described the injured worker as a signaller or traffic controller. That position guides aircraft on and off airport stands during ground movements.
One witness said the worker tripped and ended up beneath the moving aircraft. The account describes what the witness saw, but does not establish the full sequence leading to the collision.
A passenger described the reaction inside the aircraft as the incident unfolded.
“A lot of [passengers] were screaming.”
Authorities had not publicly confirmed the worker's identity, age, or sex. The worker was taken for medical treatment after emergency crews arrived.
The airline says the facts remain under review
French Bee said investigators had not yet determined the precise circumstances. The airline said it was cooperating with Canadian authorities and other parties examining the case.
“The exact details of the incident have not yet been determined,”
The airline added that it was “fully cooperating with Canadian authorities and all relevant parties to clarify the facts.”
The investigation remains focused on the aircraft's ground movement and the worker's position during pushback. Police and workplace-safety investigators are examining the scene as they work to establish what happened.
