Air Canada CEO Resigns After French Language Controversy

0:00It's March 30th. This is Global News Today, your AI-powered source for world news. Air Canada's CEO, Michael Russo, is retiring by the end of the company's third quarter this year. The move comes after heavy backlash for posting a condolence video in English only, following a deadly crash at LaGuardia Airport last week that, killed two of the airlines pilots. The accident happened when an air-Canada plane hit a fire truck right after landing in New York. One pilot, Antoine Forrest from French speaking Quebec, died along with his colleague Mackenzie Gunther. Russo's video expressed sorrow, but sparked outrage because it lacks spoken French, even with subtitles. Canadian politicians jumped in quick. Prime Minister Mark Carney called it a lack of compassion, and Quebec premier Francois Legault said Russo should quit if he can't speak French. Lawmakers even summoned him to explain himself before a parliamentary committee on official languages. Russo apologized in writing, both in English and French, admitting his French is weak

1:02despite years of lessons. He said he was heartbroken that it still focused from the victim's families. This isn't his first rodeo back in 2021, when he became CEO. He faced the same heat and promise to improve. He's wrapping up nearly two decades at the Montreal-based airline, calling it an honor to lead. He'll stick around to ease the transition. Making things steady as Air Canada honors its bilingual routes under Canada's official languages law.