Air Canada grounds pilot over 'unacceptable' social media posts about Israel-Gaza war
Air Canada said it has grounded a pilot over "unacceptable" posts on social media about Israel.
The group StopAntiSemitism.org shared Instagram screenshots of a man identified as Mostafa Ezzo in pro-Palestinian colours while wearing his pilot uniform and holding a sign at a demonstration in Montreal that referenced Hitler.
Last Sunday, several Montreal residents held a demonstration in Dorchester Square in support of Palestine following the Hamas attacks on Israel a day earlier.
One of the screenshots from an Instagram account allegedly belonging to Ezzo promoted the protest with the caption: "Burn in hell." Another post allegedly showed Ezzo holding a sign showing an Israeli flag being dumped into a trash can with the messaging: "Keep the world clean."
CTV News reached out to Air Canada for comment on Tuesday about Ezzo. In a statement, the airline said he "was taken out of service yesterday."
"This means he has been removed from flying."
Canada's flag carrier also went public with the staffing decision by publishing a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, which said, "We are aware of the unacceptable posts made by an Air Canada pilot. We are taking this matter very seriously."
The post went on to say, "We firmly denounce violence in all forms."
The union representing Air Canada pilots, the Air Line Pilots Association, said in a statement that it is aware of the situation and is "incredibly saddened by the tragedies in the Middle East. We condemn all violence and hatred, and any promotion thereof."
"It is our firm expectation that all of our members abide by this principle and our professional code of ethics."
Montreal residents with loved ones on both sides of the conflict have held rallies in recent days to show solidarity with the loss of civilian life.
Amid the fighting between Hamas and Israel, the war has claimed the lives of at least 1,900 people on both sides, The Associated Press reported Tuesday evening.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.