In brief
On March 24, 2026, two Air Canada pilots, Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther, lost their lives in a tragic collision involving a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport. The incident, which occurred shortly after landing, also left 41 injured, prompting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash. Both pilots were noted for their promising careers and contributions to aviation, with tributes pouring in from their families and the broader aviation community.
The two Air Canada pilots killed when a plane crashed into a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport have been identified as Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther.
Local media reported Forest was 30-years-old and from Québec, while Gunther graduated from Seneca Polytechnic in Toronto in 2023.
The incident, which happened at 23:40 local time on Sunday (03:40 GMT on Monday), injured 41 people who were taken to hospital and shut the New York airport until Monday afternoon.
These were two young men at the start of their career, so it's an absolute tragedy that we're sitting here with their loss, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) administrator Bran Bedford said.
Forest had learned to fly bush planes in Saguenay in 2018 before being hired by Air Canada in December 2022, the Toronto Star reported. His great aunt, Jeannette Gagnier, shared her sorrow, saying they spent summers together as he practiced his English to become a pilot.
Gunther joined Air Canada after graduating from Seneca, which said flags at the campus would be lowered to half-mast on Tuesday. Seneca sends our deepest condolences to Mr. Gunther's family and friends, and to his former colleagues and professors. He will be deeply missed, the college said in a statement.
Amidst the tragedy, flight attendant Solange Tremblay survived after being ejected from the plane, found alive strapped to her seat. An investigation is underway, focusing on air traffic control and runway safety protocols, as questions arise about the systems in place to ensure such incidents do not occur again.
