Ground worker seriously hurt after being struck by aircraft at Montreal airport

A ground worker was seriously injured after being struck by an aircraft on the apron at Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport on the evening of August 24, 2026.

Aéroports de Montréal, which operates the airport, said emergency crews responded around 19:30 local time to what it described as an accident involving an aircraft and a member of the airport community. The worker was taken to hospital. The airport operator said flight operations continued as normal and advised travellers to check with their airlines for updates.

Local broadcaster Radio-Canada identified the injured man as a signaller, the ground role responsible for guiding aircraft into and out of parking positions. Montreal police described his injuries as serious.

The incident happened as a French bee Airbus A350-900 was being prepared for a flight from Montreal to Paris Orly, originally scheduled to depart at 18:00. The aircraft did not leave as planned. Radio-Canada reported the delay stemmed from a technical issue linked to the accident. A separate French bee A350-900 later operated the return service to Paris, departing after midnight, though it is not confirmed whether it carried the original flight's passengers.

Canada's Transportation Safety Board said it had been informed of the occurrence but had not, as of August 25, issued a formal notice indicating it would investigate. Montreal police said the matter would be handed to Quebec's workplace safety regulator, the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité du travail, for further review.