DEADLY ACCIDENT

Airport Worker Dies After Being Hit by Jet

The worker was identified by his union as 39-year-old Oscar Robayo.

An airport worker has died after being hit by a plane on the tarmac. Ramp worker Oscar Robayo, 39, was directing an Airbus A350 operated by French budget airline French Bee at Montréal-Trudeau International Airport when he fell and was struck by the aircraft as it was reversing while preparing for takeoff on Monday evening. Robayo’s death was confirmed on Tuesday. He was employed by Samsic, a company providing airport and passenger support services. The airline told The Canadian Press that the incident occurred while the aircraft was being moved with the assistance of a pushback vehicle. Emergency crews responded to the scene and took Robayo to hospital, where he later died. The plane was scheduled to fly from Montreal to Paris but remained grounded for several hours after the accident, and landed in Paris at 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Aéroports de Montréal CEO Yves Beauchamp said the airport was supporting “employees and passengers who witnessed this tragic accident” and cooperating with investigators. “The loss of a member of our airport community affects us all deeply,” he said. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.