Air Canada Chief Executive Michael Rousseau announced he will step down from his position following widespread criticism over his response to a fatal runway collision at New York's LaGuardia Airport last week.

Rousseau faced backlash after delivering his condolence statement primarily in English following the crash. The CEO's language choice drew sharp criticism from Quebec lawmakers and French-speaking communities, who viewed the response as insensitive given Air Canada's status as a federally regulated airline with bilingual obligations.

Quebec legislators had specifically called for Rousseau's resignation following his English-language apology. The controversy highlighted ongoing tensions over language requirements for executives at Canada's flag carrier, which operates under federal language laws requiring services in both English and French.

Air Canada confirmed that Rousseau will retire this year and indicated the company will prioritize French fluency when searching for his successor. The airline has not announced a specific timeline for the leadership transition or named potential candidates.

The runway collision at LaGuardia Airport resulted in fatalities, though specific details about the incident have not been fully disclosed by authorities. The crash prompted immediate scrutiny of Rousseau's public response and reignited debates about language requirements for senior executives at major Canadian corporations.

Rousseau's departure marks a significant leadership change for Air Canada as the airline continues to navigate post-pandemic recovery and ongoing operational challenges in the aviation sector.