Full Breakdown
Fatal Ground Accident at Montreal-Trudeau Airport Claims Life of Ramp Agent
8/27/2026, 8:16:32 PM
Incident Overview
On Monday evening at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL), a ground-handling employee was fatally injured when an Airbus A350 operated by French Bee struck him during a push-back maneuver. The aircraft, Flight BF5761, was preparing to depart for Paris-Orly. The worker, identified by his union as Oscar Robayo, 39, was employed by the ground-services firm Samsic. Emergency crews transported him to a hospital, where he later died. No passengers or crew on the flight were injured.
Background & Context
Push-back operations involve a vehicle that disconnects the aircraft from the gate and moves it backward to allow taxiing. Samsic provides ground-handling services at YUL, including runway-marshal duties. French Bee is a French low-cost carrier that operates transatlantic routes such as Montreal–Paris. The incident occurred while the aircraft was being moved with the assistance of a push-back vehicle, a routine phase of ground handling.
Data & Statistics
- Victim: Oscar Robayo, 39, runway marshal for Samsic.
- Aircraft: Airbus A350, registration unspecified, operated by French Bee.
- Flight: BF5761, scheduled for Montreal -> Paris-Orly.
- Time of incident: approximately 7:30 p.m. Monday.
- Injuries: Robayo suffered fatal injuries; all passengers and crew were unharmed.
Official Statements & Responses
- French Bee expressed “deepest condolences” to Robayo’s family and confirmed full cooperation with Canadian authorities investigating the event.
- Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), represented by President and CEO Yves Beauchamp, described the loss as affecting the entire airport community and pledged support for employees and passengers who witnessed the accident. ADM also affirmed ongoing cooperation with the investigation.
- Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) announced that it is collecting information and assessing the occurrence, noting that the incident happened during push-back on the movement area and that a ground crew member became trapped under an aircraft wheel.
- Quebec Coroner’s Office was notified and is conducting a separate inquiry into the cause and circumstances of the death.
- International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, the union representing Robayo, posted a tribute on Facebook describing his death as a “tragic accident” and a “heart-breaking loss.”
On-the-Ground Accounts
Passengers aboard Flight BF5761 reported feeling a sudden “shock” as the aircraft began to move backward. One passenger, Matthieu Douvenou, recounted seeing the nose landing gear and hearing the impact. A separate witness described a chaotic scene with many passengers screaming after the aircraft’s movement.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Two descriptions of how the worker was struck differ among sources. Both accounts agree the incident occurred during push-back, but the precise mechanism remains undetermined. The investigation continues, and no definitive cause has been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The loss of a member of our airport community affects us all deeply,” — Yves Beauchamp, president and CEO
- “I could see the nose landing gear. And then all of a sudden, it was as if the tarmac worker had stumbled, and then at that moment, the plane backed up and we felt the shock,” — Matthieu Douvenou
What’s Next
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the Quebec coroner’s office will continue their investigations, with findings expected to be released in due course. French Bee and ADM have pledged ongoing cooperation with authorities.
