Air Canada chief to retire following criticism of English-only crash message

Michael Rousseau’s resignation follows criticism of his English-only message of condolence after a plane collided with a fire truck at La Guardia airport (Seth Wenig/AP)

Air Canada has announced its chief executive will retire later this year following criticism of his English-only message of condolence following this month’s deadly crash in New York.

Canada’s largest airline, based in French-speaking Quebec, said Michael Rousseau told the board he will leave by the end of the third quarter.