A marshaller at Montreal-Trudeau Airport was seriously injured Monday night after being struck by an Airbus A350 operated by French Bee as the aircraft was pushing back from the gate. The employee, whose identity has not been released, was reportedly knocked down and struck by the plane.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with one woman telling Radio Canada that the man went under the moving plane and that "many [travelers] were screaming." Emergency service vehicles responded to the incident and surrounded the aircraft.
The flight, bound for Paris, France, was scheduled to depart Montreal at 6 p.m. local time but was delayed until after midnight Tuesday. It was expected to land at Paris Orly Airport shortly after 1 p.m. French time.
A spokesperson for French Bee confirmed the accident and stated that the precise circumstances are under investigation. The airline is cooperating with Canadian authorities and supporting passengers and crew affected by the incident. The injured marshaller was transported to a hospital with serious injuries, according to local police, who declined to provide further details.