Ground Worker Critically Injured by A350 at Montreal Airport

An airport ground worker is in critical condition after being run over by an Airbus A350 at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport. The incident occurred on the evening of August 24 as the Frenchbee widebody aircraft was being pushed back from its stand.

Early reports from the source, Paddle Your Own Kanoo, suggest the employee was a wing walker. This worker reportedly tripped and fell in front of the aircraft. The front landing gear of the plane then ran over the individual.

The aircraft involved was a seven-year-old Airbus A350-900. It was operating a ferry service after being stranded in Montreal over the weekend due to a technical issue. The pushback occurred later than planned, at around 7:00 pm.

Emergency Response and Investigation

A full emergency response was activated at the airport shortly after the incident. Officials confirmed the injured employee was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.

The Transportation Safety Bureau of Canada has been informed and will investigate the accident. The specific circumstances leading to the worker's fall and the subsequent collision are now under official scrutiny.

Aircraft and Airline Details

The aircraft remains on the ground at Montreal-Trudeau. Meanwhile, Frenchbee's regularly scheduled passenger service to Paris Orly departed as normal on the Monday evening following the incident.

Frenchbee is a French low-cost, long-haul carrier owned by the Dubreuil Group. The airline started operations in 2016 and was originally named French Blue. It changed its name after objections from jetBlue regarding market entry into the United States.

The Airbus A350-900 is a large, modern twin-engine aircraft. The source notes it can weigh as much as 145 tons before accounting for fuel, passengers, and cargo. This shows the severity of an impact with ground personnel.

Ongoing Aftermath

The investigation will focus on procedures during the pushback operation. Safety protocols for wing walkers and other ground staff working in close proximity to moving aircraft are likely to be a key area of review.

The condition of the injured worker remains the primary concern. The incident highlights the inherent dangers of airport ramp operations, even with experienced personnel and established safety measures in place.