A 39-year-old ramp agent, Oscar R., died at Montreal-Trudeau Airport on Monday, August 24, 2026, after being crushed by an Airbus A350.
The accident occurred at around 7:30 p.m. local time on the airport tarmac as the French bee flight was preparing to depart for Paris. The victim, who was employed by ground handling firm Samsic Airport, was struck by the moving nose landing gear of the aircraft during a pushback maneuver.
The aircraft, an Airbus A350-900, was positioned near an embarkation gate when it received clearance from air traffic control to leave its parking stand. A specialized pushback tractor was engaged to push the long-haul jet backward away from the terminal building.
At the time of the maneuver, Oscar R. was standing on the tarmac at the aircraft nose gear, communicating with the flight deck crew via radio. In accordance with standard airport procedures, two of his colleagues were stationed at the outer tips of the wings to monitor safety and ensure clearance from surrounding ground obstacles.
For reasons that remain under investigation, Oscar R. fell to the ground during the movement, and the heavy wheels of the front landing gear rolled over him. Michel Richer, the Quebec coordinator for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, told the Journal de Montréal that the ramp agent was standing close to the front wheel, too close.
Emergency personnel attended to the severely injured worker on the tarmac. He was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition but subsequently died from his injuries.
Investigating the Tarmac Accident
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has opened an official investigation to determine the precise circumstances surrounding the fatal incident. The independent federal agency investigates civil aviation occurrences to identify safety deficiencies and prevent future accidents.
Oscar R. had been employed for one year by Samsic Airport, a French company that provides ground handling, ramp assistance, and aviation support services at major international airports. Ground handlers working on airport ramps operate in close proximity to heavy aircraft machinery, jet blast zones, and motorized towing equipment.
Following the accident, French bee expressed deep sadness over the death of the airport team member. In an official statement, the French carrier offered its sincere condolences to his family and loved ones, as well as its support to his colleagues and all ground personnel affected by the tragedy. The airline confirmed that it is cooperating fully with Canadian authorities to support the ongoing inquiry.
French bee is a French long-haul airline that operates a fleet of six aircraft, consisting exclusively of Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 wide-body jets. The Airbus A350-900 is a twin-engine airliner used for long-distance international routes, featuring twin front wheels on its nose gear assembly to steer the aircraft on airport ramps and taxiways.
Safety Protocols for Airport Pushback
Pushback maneuvers are routine ground procedures carried out before every commercial flight departure. During pushback, a ground tractor connects to the nose gear to push the aircraft backward, while the ground crew lead maintains constant radio contact with the pilots in the cockpit to coordinate movement.
Safety protocols dictate that additional ground workers, known as wing walkers, remain stationed near the wingtips to maintain visual clearance from jet bridges, vehicles, and other aircraft. Investigations into ramp fatalities typically examine ground communication, visibility from the cockpit, tractor attachment, and adherence to safety exclusion zones around moving landing gear.
