Internal Memo Reveals Air Canada Must Update Hundreds of Pieces of GSE In Wake of Employee Death

July 14, 2016
A CBC report finds Air Canada will need to update some 950 pieces of GSE with seat belts by mid-November following a federal investigation.

Following an April 20 incident in which a ramp agent was killed at Toronto's Pearson airport, Air Canada has been ordered to fix "hundreds" of baggage trucks at airports across Canada by Labour Canada. According to the report by the CBC, Air Canada has until November 15 to complete the repairs.

An internal memo obtained by the CBC states that Air Canada has been directed to install seat belts on all "ramp and baggage tractors, belt loaders and other motorized material handling equipment" that do not currently have seat belts. According to the airline, the updates will 950 of Air Canada's 2,200 pieces of relevant GSE.

The updates are already underway according to the Air Canada memo, dated June 8.

Ian Henry Pervez, 24, was killed after the baggage truck he was driving flipped over, ejecting him. The CBC has obtained an earlier internal memo dated April 30 stating the mechanical inspection of the truck involved in the incident revealed "mechanical issues."

Read the full CBC report including responses from the airline, Pervez' family and his colleagues.