Hours after announced its , reaction poured in from politicians, the public and on social media, including from billionaire Elon Musk.

The announcement about Michael Rousseau came after days of calls for him to resign amid controversy over his English-only video condolence following a deadly Air Canada crash at LaGuardia Airport that killed the pilots, one of whom was from Quebec.

The company said in a statement that its board had a “longstanding focus” on CEO succession planning. It added an external global search started in January 2026 to identify potential candidates to lead the airline.

But while Rousseau’s announced retirement was welcomed by political leaders, Musk took to the social media platform he owns to call the departure “crazy.”

“That’s crazy,” Musk wrote in reply to a post on X about the retirement. “Moreover, it is not not reciprocal at all. There are many one-sided laws in Canada that mandate French at the expense of English. Extremely hypocritical and unfair!”

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Musk’s post was accompanied by a screengrab showing Grok, the AI chatbot, being asked, presumably by the X owner, to list all French mandate laws in Canada and how it’s “hypocritical” compared to no English mandate laws.

Grok notes Quebec’s Charter of the French language and, more recently, Bill 96, which includes requiring French to be used in government communications and to be “markedly predominant” on store signs.

2:12
Calls for resignation of Air Canada CEO following his failure to speak French

The AI chatbot also noted the Canadian government’s legislation that guarantees the right to be served and to work in French in businesses under federal jurisdiction in Quebec.

The federal government’s bill was focused on strengthening protections around the French language and recognizing it as the only official language in Canada that is under threat and thus must be protected in federal workplaces.

Quebec’s laws have drawn the ire of people in the past, including the U.S., which last year listed Premier Francois Legault’s French-language reform as a barrier to trade. The U.S. reasoning focuses on the requirement by Quebec on companies to translate into French any part of their trademark on product packaging that contains generic terms or descriptions of items.

The province stressed at the time it wouldn’t be softening its language laws despite the U.S. criticism.

Following Rousseau’s video last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney was one of the first to criticize it, saying he was “very disappointed.”

“It doesn’t matter the circumstances but particularly in these circumstances: a lack of judgment and a lack of compassion,” Carney told reporters last Thursday.

“We live in a bilingual country. Companies like Air Canada, particularly, have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages, regardless of the situation.”

Quebec’s legislative assembly also voted unanimously, with one abstention, demanding Rousseau resign.

Rousseau has previously apologized for being unable to express himself adequately in French.

— With files from Global News’ Adriana Fallico and Sean Boynton, and The Canadian Press

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Air Canada has announced that CEO Michael Rousseau will retire by the end of this year’s third quarter on Monday morning.

The news comes after backlash from political leaders last week over Rousseau’s English-only video condolences after the deadly Air Canada crash at LaGuardia Airport that killed two of the airlines pilots, including one from Quebec.

“The Board has had a longstanding focus on CEO succession planning. Consistent with this priority, work has been underway for more than two years on a comprehensive internal development program for high potential executives,” Air Canada’s statement reads.

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“An external global search was also commenced in January 2026 to identify potential additional candidates with the skills, and experience to lead Canada’s national airline, proudly headquartered in Montréal, Québec.”

Rousseau has been the CEO of Air Canada since February 2021.

Prime Minister Mark Carney had criticized Rousseau’s English-only crash condolences last week, saying he was “very disappointed.”

“It doesn’t matter the circumstances but particularly in these circumstances: a lack of judgment and a lack of compassion,” Carney told reporters on Thursday morning, speaking first in French before repeating the criticisms in English.

“We live in a bilingual country. Companies like Air Canada, particularly, have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages, regardless of the situation.”

More to come.

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The Issue: An Air Canada jet collides with a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport.

While the fire truck that struck the Air Canada jet on the LaGuardia Airport runway lacked a transponder that could have prevented the fatal accident, it apparently also lacked an intersection emergency automatic braking system that many new cars have (“Confusion on comms for truck, tower,” March 25).

Both systems should be required for all airport vehicles.

Paul Kamenar

Chevy Chase, Md.

In listening to the call by the air traffic controller to the fire truck, you hear the controller very casually say, “Stop, stop, stop.”

Why didn’t he scream it?

Perhaps the urgency in his voice could have made the truck stop sooner and avoid the tragic aftermath.

Saul J. Mishaan

Brooklyn

Had the pilots of the Air Canada plane not begun to apply the brakes as quickly as they did, it was very possible the plane could have been cut in half, causing serious loss of life.

These pilots made a split-second decision that saved the passengers’ lives, though they lost their own.

They should receive the highest possible posthumous honors.

Joseph Comperchio

Brooklyn

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating what went wrong in the Air Canada crash: human error or existing systems failure.

Apparently the air traffic controller initially advised the fire truck that it was safe to proceed, then recanted, repeating “stop.” It was either unheard or too late.

However, if the truck was equipped with an automatic emergency braking system, it would have stopped if the plane was directly in its path.

The NTSB should in sure that such technology is installed in all vehicles on airport tarmacs to limit the risk of another disaster.

Larry Sylvester

Acton, Ontario

Despite the fact that air traffic control gave the green light to the fire-truck, the driver should’ve waited by checking surroundings, and wouldn’t have missed the aircraft.

Ahmet Kaya

Jacksonville, Fla.

Sadly, we saw what can happen when people are overwhelmed while working.

The Air Canada flight crashing into the fire truck at LaGuardia won’t be forgotten, but something we learn from.

Sharon Cesario

Brooklyn

The Issue: A bill requiring New York beauty schools to add “textured hair” education to their curriculums.

Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages co-authored a bill requiring hair and cosmetology schools in New York state to make “textured” hair education part of the general curriculum (“Texture a must-’do at schools,” March 23).

As a beauty professional with curly hair, I say it’s great.

But Solages’ assertion that the suggestion for her to straighten her hair to look more professional is a “form of discrimination” is where we part company.

Can we just stop looking under rocks to find grievances based on race?

It was just a suggestion, and has been made to me at times too

(I’m Caucasian).

How about focusing on the positive?

Expanding beauty education is great for stylists and clients, and doesn’t have to be born from grievance to have merit.

Michelle Graham

Lynbrook

Once again, the heavy bureaucratic hand of New York feels compelled to step in and “right a wrong,” of discrimination in yet another area.

Rather than allowing the marketplace to correct an unmet need, the government steps with more burdensome regulation.

Here is a perfect opportunity for smart hair salons to carve out a service niche and capture a dedicated customer base: Train your stylists and advertise a service expertise.

Let the marketplace solve its own problems.

J. Mancuso

Naples, Fla.

Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@nypost.com. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.

The death of Air Canada Jazz pilot Antoine Forest, who perished when his plane collided with an emergency vehicle at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Sunday, has sparked an outpouring of sympathy in his hometown southwest of Montreal.

Since late Monday, many citizens have been calling city hall in Coteau-du-Lac to offer their condolences to the family of Forest, who died alongside co-pilot Mackenzie Gunther.

The attention has surprised and touched the mayor and city staff.

Mayor Andrée Brosseau told The Canadian Press that they’ve been directing people to their Facebook page, where a post about the pilot’s death has garnered hundreds of comments and shares.

2:07
Latest on the Air Canada Express crash at LaGuardia Airport

“We’re telling them to leave a comment,” said Brosseau, adding that if the family ever wants to see the comments, “it will be there, on social media.”

Brosseau said she is “heartbroken for the family” and “available to provide them with any necessary support.”

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Coteau-du-Lac has a population of about 7,800, so “everyone knows someone who knows the family,” she said. Forest’s death has deeply affected the community, she added.

Many of the messages have also come from beyond the region. Louis-Cédrik Leduc, a communications staffer for the town, said even U.S. citizens have expressed their sadness and condolences to the city.

Cédric Forest, Antoine’s brother, paid tribute to him in a personal Facebook post on Monday night.

“Have a good flight, my brother!” he wrote. “Oh yes, we’ve heard that phrase often, but this time it will be the last. You were always coming and going, always full of new projects. You left us again, too soon to say goodbye.”

1:27
1 of 2 Air Canada pilots killed in LaGuardia crash graduated from aviation program in Peterborough, Ont.

“I love you, my brother,” he added. “You can leave with your head held high.”

Quebec’s forest fire prevention service, known as SOPFEU, also offered its condolences on Tuesday to the friends and family of the two pilots who died.

“During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Antoine worked on SOPFEU operations as a spotter pilot with Exact Air,” the agency said in a social media post.

“He was a very kind, highly professional and well-liked colleague.”

The agency also extended its sympathies to Gunther and all the other victims of the accident.

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press

The two Air Canada pilots killed in a deadly crash after their plane collided with a firetruck at LaGuardia Airport on Sunday night have been identified as Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther.

Forest was identified through a Facebook post from the city of Coteau-du-Lac, a community in Quebec.

“The City of Coteau-du-Lac and the members of the municipal council wish to extend their most sincere condolences to his family, loved ones, and friends. We wish them all the comfort they need to get through this ordeal,” the post, originally in French, reads.

Gunther was the first officer on the flight, according to a statement from Seneca College.

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“Seneca mourns the loss of alumnus Mackenzie Gunther in the aviation accident at LaGuardia Airport in New York yesterday,” the statement reads.

“Gunther graduated from the Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology (FPR) program in 2023. Through the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program, he joined Jazz Aviation immediately after graduation and began his professional flying career.”

4:58
NTSB provides update on Air Canada collision, says investigation could take ‘days’

The flight was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members, with more than 40 people hospitalized following the crash.

The two occupants of the fire truck were taken to hospital but are expected to be released.

The crash caused LaGuardia — the New York region’s third busiest flight hub — to shut down during what was already a disruptive time at American airports because of a partial government shutdown.

The accident remains under investigation by U.S. authorities.

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Two Air Canada pilots are dead after their flight originating from Montreal collided with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport Sunday night.

The Jazz Aviation flight, Air Canada’s regional airline, was carrying 76 people when it touched down and slammed into a fire truck on a runway at around 11:30 p.m. March 22.

Kathryn Garcia, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport, said the 72 passengers and four crew have been accounted for.

However, the two pilots – who were based out of Canada – died, she told reporters early Monday morning.

Garcia said 41 people were taken to two hospitals in Queens and 32 were eventually released. Nine remained in care, including some in serious condition, she said.

Two Port Authority employees travelling in the fire truck suffered non-life-threatening injuries, she added.

The flight originated from Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport; a fire truck was crossing Runway 4 in response to a separate incident involving a United Airlines flight when it was hit. Garcia said that issue was related to an odour on takeoff.

“The airport is currently closed to facilitate the response and allow for a thorough investigation. This is a developing situation based on preliminary information,” LaGuardia said in a post on X Monday morning.

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“The Port Authority Police Department is working closely with our airline partners as well as federal authorities and will provide additional updates as more details become available.”

It will remain closed until 2 p.m. while the National Transportation Safety Board investigates, it later added.

Air Canada said in a statement Monday that flight 8646 was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members, though it was subject to confirmation.

“The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that the pilot and the first officer were killed in this accident. We are deeply saddened by the loss of two Jazz employees, and our deepest condolences go out to the entire Jazz community and their families,” the airline said.

“Air Canada and Jazz Aviation are cooperating with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the National Transportation Safety Board in the United States in the investigation of the cause of this incident.”

Photos from the scene showed severe damage to the front of the aircraft, with cables and debris hanging from a mangled cockpit. Nearby, a damaged emergency vehicle was on its side.

Stairways used to evacuate passengers from aircraft were pushed up to the emergency exits on the jet, a Mitsubishi CRJ-900. The impact left the jet with its crumpled nose tilted upward.

The Associated Press reported in the moments before the crash, an air traffic controller could be heard on a radio transmission giving clearance to a vehicle to cross part of the tarmac, then trying to stop it. The controller was heard frantically diverting incoming aircraft from landing afterwards.

— with files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press