Signaler dies following ground accident at Montréal-Trudeau Airport

A ground worker at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport has died following a serious accident during aircraft ground operations Monday evening.

Aéroports de Montréal, which operates Montréal-Trudeau, confirmed Tuesday morning that the worker was an employee of Samsic and died while carrying out his duties.

The accident occurred Monday evening during ground operations preceding the departure of a French bee flight to Paris-Orly.

In a statement, French bee said the accident involved its aircraft and a pushback vehicle operating as part of the ground-handling process. The airline said the passengers and crew aboard the aircraft were safe.

French bee said the precise circumstances of the accident had not been established and that it was co-operating with Canadian authorities and other parties involved in determining what happened.

ADM president and CEO Yves Beauchamp expressed condolences to the worker's family, friends and colleagues.

“The loss of a member of our airport community affects us all deeply,” Beauchamp said. “During this difficult time, our thoughts are with the employee’s family, loved ones and colleagues, to whom we extend our heartfelt sympathy and sincere condolences.”

ADM said it has put assistance and support measures in place for employees and passengers who witnessed the accident. The airport authority also said it has been co-operating with the authorities responsible for the investigation since the outset of their work.

ADM said it would not provide further comment out of consideration for the victim and his loved ones and directed media inquiries to the authorities leading the investigation.

The circumstances that led to the worker's death remain under investigation.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has been notified of the occurrence. The CNESST, Quebec's workplace-safety authority, is responsible for investigating workplace accidents within its jurisdiction.

No further details about the victim, including his identity or age, have been publicly released by ADM.

The death comes three years after another fatal workplace accident at Montréal-Trudeau. ADM's public information records the 2023 death of Elias Kamou, an employee of airport partner Equans, and says it subsequently established a fund in his memory focused on workplace health and safety at YUL and YMX.