The Montreal-Trudeau airport worker killed Monday evening was assisting with the pushback of a passenger jet when his foot became caught and he was struck by the aircraft’s nose wheel, according to the union representing him.
Oscar Robayo, 39, had worked for aviation services company Samsic since March 2025 as a station attendant, or ramp worker, IAM representative Peter Tsoukalas told The Gazette Tuesday. The accident occurred around 7:30 p.m. as a French Bee Airbus A350 was being pushed back from its gate.
Tsoukalas, who said he is participating in the investigation into Robayo’s death, said the accident resulted from what he described as a “chain of events.” He declined to elaborate while the investigation remains underway.
The Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday that it had dispatched a team of investigators. The aircraft had been scheduled to fly from Montreal to Paris Orly Airport.
“Ramp workers handle a lot of the ground work required while an aircraft is at the gate, including loading and unloading baggage, connecting equipment and preparing the plane for departure,” Tsoukalas said.
During a pushback, workers can perform several different roles. Some walk alongside the aircraft’s wings to ensure it remains clear of obstacles, while another operates the pushback vehicle and another communicates directly with the cockpit through a headset, he said.
“It’s a very dangerous job,” Tsoukalas said. “You’re dealing with a lot of elements, a lot of factors. Heavy equipment, airplanes.”
“One mistake can cause you immediate danger or damage or death, even.”
Asked whether the union had previously raised safety concerns involving pushbacks, staffing or training at Samsic, Tsoukalas did not identify any specific previous issue.
Several of Robayo’s coworkers were interviewed as part of the investigation and remained at the airport overnight following the accident, Tsoukalas said.
“He was a really good worker,” Tsoukalas said. “He was a very good team player.”
Tsoukalas said the union now wants investigators to identify measures that could prevent another worker from being killed in similar circumstances.
“We want a system in place that would never allow anybody else, whether it’s our members or any other employee working at the airport, to ever replicate or duplicate the same incident,” he said.
An investigation has also been opened by Employment and Social Development Canada, which investigates injuries in federally regulated workplaces.
Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said Transport Canada will appoint a ministerial observer to keep him informed on the progress of the investigation and expressed his sympathies to Robayo’s loved ones and colleagues in a social media post.
My thoughts are with the family, loved ones, colleagues, and all those mourning the loss of the airport worker following the tragic incident at Montréal-Trudeau Airport. This is a difficult and painful time for many. The safety and security of Canadians is Transport Canada’s…
— Steven MacKinnon (@stevenmackinnon) August 25, 2026
The Quebec coroner’s office said it has also opened an investigation.
In a statement, French Bee said it was deeply saddened by Robayo’s death.
“The company extends its deepest condolences to the victim’s family and loved ones, as well as its support to his colleagues and all the teams affected by this incident,” the airline said in an emailed statement. “At this stage, the exact circumstances of the accident, which occurred during the aircraft’s pushback, have yet to be determined. French Bee is co-operating fully with the relevant Canadian authorities and providing them with its full support to ensure the investigation proceeds smoothly.”
Robayo’s death was confirmed by the Montreal airport authority earlier in the day.
“The loss of a member of our airport community has deeply saddened us all. During this difficult time, our thoughts are with their family, loved ones and colleagues, to whom we extend our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences,” Aéroports de Montréal president and CEO Yves Beauchamp said in a statement.
It is with profound sadness that ADM learned of the passing of a member of the YUL airport community, an employee of our partner Samsic, who passed away while performing their duties. The entire YUL airport community is mourning this loss. Our thoughts are with their family,… pic.twitter.com/pZgImUdcUM
— YUL Aéroport international Montréal-Trudeau (@yulaeroport) August 25, 2026
Police said the incident is not being treated as a criminal matter and they are not investigating.
The airport authority said it has taken steps to help support staff and passengers who witnessed the incident.
It said it is co-operating with the investigation, but will not comment further.
Samsic did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday from The Gazette.